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May under pressure to condemn Trump's immigration ban May under pressure to condemn Trump's immigration ban
(35 minutes later)
Theresa May is under intense pressure to condemn Donald Trump’s ban on refugees and people from seven Muslim-majority countries entering the US, which could affect dual nationality Britons such as Olympic gold medallist Sir Mo Farah and Conservative MP Nadhim Zahawi.Theresa May is under intense pressure to condemn Donald Trump’s ban on refugees and people from seven Muslim-majority countries entering the US, which could affect dual nationality Britons such as Olympic gold medallist Sir Mo Farah and Conservative MP Nadhim Zahawi.
The prime minister declined to criticise the ban during a visit to Turkey on Saturday, just one day after she became the first world leader to hold talks with the president.The prime minister declined to criticise the ban during a visit to Turkey on Saturday, just one day after she became the first world leader to hold talks with the president.
Asked several times what she thought of Trump’s order, she finally replied: “The United States is responsible for the United States’ policy on refugees.”Asked several times what she thought of Trump’s order, she finally replied: “The United States is responsible for the United States’ policy on refugees.”
She is now facing urgent calls to speak out against the president’s move, and to do more to help UK citizens with dual nationality from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria or Yemen, who will not be able to enter the US for 90 days.She is now facing urgent calls to speak out against the president’s move, and to do more to help UK citizens with dual nationality from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria or Yemen, who will not be able to enter the US for 90 days.
Following the ban, Zahawi, a Tory MP who was born in Iraq, said it was a “sad day for the USA” that he would not be allowed to enter.Following the ban, Zahawi, a Tory MP who was born in Iraq, said it was a “sad day for the USA” that he would not be allowed to enter.
“I’m a British citizen & so proud to have been welcomed to this country. Sad to hear I’ll be banned from the USA based on my country of birth,” he tweeted.“I’m a British citizen & so proud to have been welcomed to this country. Sad to hear I’ll be banned from the USA based on my country of birth,” he tweeted.
He added that he had had confirmation from an immigration lawyer that the order applies to himself and his wife as they were both born in Iraq, one of the seven countries targeted in Trump’s executive order.He added that he had had confirmation from an immigration lawyer that the order applies to himself and his wife as they were both born in Iraq, one of the seven countries targeted in Trump’s executive order.
Farah, who came to the UK as a child from Somalia, trains in Oregon in the US but it is not clear he would be able to re-enter the country if he left.Farah, who came to the UK as a child from Somalia, trains in Oregon in the US but it is not clear he would be able to re-enter the country if he left.
The Olympic champion is believed to be in Ethiopia for two weeks before travelling to the UK for competition. There has not yet been comment from his camp.The Olympic champion is believed to be in Ethiopia for two weeks before travelling to the UK for competition. There has not yet been comment from his camp.
On landing at Heathrow, May’s aides would not add to her earlier comments in Turkey.On landing at Heathrow, May’s aides would not add to her earlier comments in Turkey.
But pressure on May to speak out came from a string of her own Conservative MPs as well as the opposition, while other foreign governments including France and Germany expressed concerns about Trump’s move.But pressure on May to speak out came from a string of her own Conservative MPs as well as the opposition, while other foreign governments including France and Germany expressed concerns about Trump’s move.
David Warburton, Tory MP for Somerton and Frome, said the ban was “shocking, ludicrous, appalling and insane” and made clear he wanted May to oppose it.David Warburton, Tory MP for Somerton and Frome, said the ban was “shocking, ludicrous, appalling and insane” and made clear he wanted May to oppose it.
James Cleverly, MP for Braintree, also weighed in to say Trump’s “immigration and Syrian refugee ban is indefensible, unworkable and almost certainly unconstitutional”.James Cleverly, MP for Braintree, also weighed in to say Trump’s “immigration and Syrian refugee ban is indefensible, unworkable and almost certainly unconstitutional”.
On Saturday night, Sarah Wollaston, Tory MP for Totnes, who is chair of the Commons health committee, said Trump was a “sickening piece of work”. While government ministers were silent, Ruth Davidson, the Scottish Conservative leader, was one of the most senior Tories to condemn the ban, saying it was “both wrong in itself and very worrying for the future”.
She also called for him to be refused the honour of speaking to Westminster Hall when he comes for a state visit on the invitation of the Queen.
Jeremy Corbyn, the Labour leader, said May should have condemned Trump’s actions.Jeremy Corbyn, the Labour leader, said May should have condemned Trump’s actions.
“President Trump’s executive order against refugees and Muslims should shock and appal us all,” he said.“President Trump’s executive order against refugees and Muslims should shock and appal us all,” he said.
“Theresa May should have stood up for Britain and our values by condemning his actions. It should sadden our country that she chose not to.“Theresa May should have stood up for Britain and our values by condemning his actions. It should sadden our country that she chose not to.
“After Trump’s hideous actions and May’s weak failure to condemn them, it’s more important than ever for us to say to refugees seeking a place of safety, that they will always be welcome in Britain.”“After Trump’s hideous actions and May’s weak failure to condemn them, it’s more important than ever for us to say to refugees seeking a place of safety, that they will always be welcome in Britain.”
The order caused chaos on Saturday, as people who had flown to the US were held at major airports while others were barred from boarding flights or were pulled off planes overseas.The order caused chaos on Saturday, as people who had flown to the US were held at major airports while others were barred from boarding flights or were pulled off planes overseas.
However, the Foreign Office had no comment or change to its travel advice as of 10pm on Saturday night.However, the Foreign Office had no comment or change to its travel advice as of 10pm on Saturday night.
Tim Farron, the Liberal Democrat leader, said the British government urgently needed to give travel advice to British citizens who may be affected by the ban.Tim Farron, the Liberal Democrat leader, said the British government urgently needed to give travel advice to British citizens who may be affected by the ban.
“Today Theresa May said that Donald Trump’s ban on people from Muslim countries was purely a matter for America,” he said.“Today Theresa May said that Donald Trump’s ban on people from Muslim countries was purely a matter for America,” he said.
“We now learn that the State Department apparently advises that the visa ban also applies to people with dual nationality, which will include Britons. “Even allowing for her cosying up to Donald Trump, it would be a gross abdication of her responsibilities to all British citizens if she doesn’t take this up with her new best friend now, making clear that anyone with a British passport and a visa should be allowed safe passage. “She must also order the Foreign Office to deliver urgently tonight advice to British citizens travelling to the United States on whether they should continue to travel.”“We now learn that the State Department apparently advises that the visa ban also applies to people with dual nationality, which will include Britons. “Even allowing for her cosying up to Donald Trump, it would be a gross abdication of her responsibilities to all British citizens if she doesn’t take this up with her new best friend now, making clear that anyone with a British passport and a visa should be allowed safe passage. “She must also order the Foreign Office to deliver urgently tonight advice to British citizens travelling to the United States on whether they should continue to travel.”
Trump has also banned refugees from entering the country for 120 days and those seeking asylum from Syria have been banned indefinitely.Trump has also banned refugees from entering the country for 120 days and those seeking asylum from Syria have been banned indefinitely.
Labour MP Yvette Cooper, the chair of the Commons home affairs committee, has written to May asking her to clarify whether she raised concerns about the president’s approach to refugees and Muslims during their talks at the White House on Friday.Labour MP Yvette Cooper, the chair of the Commons home affairs committee, has written to May asking her to clarify whether she raised concerns about the president’s approach to refugees and Muslims during their talks at the White House on Friday.
Her letter states: “You will understand how important it is for people in the United Kingdom to know that when our prime minister talks on Holocaust Memorial Day about things we have in common with the president of the United States, you are not talking about or condoning in any way the deeply troubling measures that president Trump has introduced,” she said.Her letter states: “You will understand how important it is for people in the United Kingdom to know that when our prime minister talks on Holocaust Memorial Day about things we have in common with the president of the United States, you are not talking about or condoning in any way the deeply troubling measures that president Trump has introduced,” she said.