This article is from the source 'independent' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/donald-trump-uk-state-visit-speaker-address-parliament-a7565651.html

The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Donald Trump will not be allowed to address Parliament on UK state visit, Speaker John Bercow says Donald Trump will not be allowed to address Parliament on UK state visit, Speaker John Bercow says
(35 minutes later)
Donald Trump will effectively be blocked from addressing Parliament on his state visit to the UK, the Speaker of the House of Commons has said.Donald Trump will effectively be blocked from addressing Parliament on his state visit to the UK, the Speaker of the House of Commons has said.
John Bercow, the Speaker, said he was "strongly opposed" to Mr Trump speaking in the Commons and that being invited was "not an automatic right" but "an earned honour".John Bercow, the Speaker, said he was "strongly opposed" to Mr Trump speaking in the Commons and that being invited was "not an automatic right" but "an earned honour".
In a dramatic intervention cited the Commons' opposition to "racism and to sexism and our support for equality before the law and an independent judiciary" as his reasons. In a dramatic intervention he cited the Commons' opposition to "racism and to sexism and our support for equality before the law and an independent judiciary" as his reasons.
“Before the imposition of the migrant ban I would myself have been strongly opposed to an address by President Trump in Westminster Hall," Mr Bercow told MPs in response to a point of order by an MP. “Before the imposition of the migrant ban I would myself have been strongly opposed to an address by President Trump in Westminster Hall," Mr Bercow told MPs in response to a point of order.
“After the imposition of the migrant ban by President Trump I am even more strongly opposed to an address by President Trump in Westminster Hall."“After the imposition of the migrant ban by President Trump I am even more strongly opposed to an address by President Trump in Westminster Hall."
The intervention will cause headaches in Downing Street, where Theresa May has bent over backwards to rekindle the so-called special relationship with the US.
Parts of the Commons erupted into rare spontaneous applause in support of Mr Bercow's statement.Parts of the Commons erupted into rare spontaneous applause in support of Mr Bercow's statement.
Veteran Labour MP Dennis Skinner, speaking after Mr Bercow's statement said: "Further to that point of order: two words: well done."Veteran Labour MP Dennis Skinner, speaking after Mr Bercow's statement said: "Further to that point of order: two words: well done."
The Speaker said: "We value our relationship with the United States. If a state visit takes place, that is way beyond and above the pay grade of the Speaker. The Speaker said: "We value our relationship with the United States. If a state visit takes place, that is way beyond and above the pay grade of the Speaker. 
"However, as far as this place is concerned I feel very strongly that our opposition to racism and to sexism and our support for equality before the law and an independent judiciary are hugely important considerations in the House of Commons.""However, as far as this place is concerned I feel very strongly that our opposition to racism and to sexism and our support for equality before the law and an independent judiciary are hugely important considerations in the House of Commons."
Theresa May invited Mr Trump to make a state visit to the UK on her recent trip to the United States. She said he would fly to Britain before the end of the year.Theresa May invited Mr Trump to make a state visit to the UK on her recent trip to the United States. She said he would fly to Britain before the end of the year.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and others have said that the visit should be cancelled until Mr Trump rescinds his "Muslim ban" on travellers from some countries.Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and others have said that the visit should be cancelled until Mr Trump rescinds his "Muslim ban" on travellers from some countries.
Whether the controversial president would address Parliament has been a particular source of contention. Foreign leaders on state visits sometimes address Westinster Hall, which lies in the House of Commons, or Royal Gallery in the House of Lords. Whether the controversial president would address Parliament has been a particular source of contention. Foreign leaders on state visits sometimes address Westminster Hall, which lies in the House of Commons, or Royal Gallery in the House of Lords.
Mr Trump's visit is fast emerging as a political minefield. His team are reportedly hoping avoid any meeting with Prince Charles, whose environmental campaigning might put him at odds with the president.
Mr Bercow said he was one of the three "keyholders" to Westminster Hall and also said he would not permit an invitation to the Royal Gallery in the House of Commons to be made in his name.Mr Bercow said he was one of the three "keyholders" to Westminster Hall and also said he would not permit an invitation to the Royal Gallery in the House of Commons to be made in his name.
He admitted that he would "perhaps have a strong a say in that matter" but said that "customarily an invitation to a visiting leader to deliver an address there would be issued in the names of the two speakers".He admitted that he would "perhaps have a strong a say in that matter" but said that "customarily an invitation to a visiting leader to deliver an address there would be issued in the names of the two speakers".
"I would not wish to issue an invitation to President Trump to speak in the Royal Gallery," he concluded."I would not wish to issue an invitation to President Trump to speak in the Royal Gallery," he concluded.
The Speaker's intervention is a particularly stunning development because the post is politically neutral. Mr Bercow was previously a Conservative MP before he was elected to the role; following convention he then gave up any party affiliation.The Speaker's intervention is a particularly stunning development because the post is politically neutral. Mr Bercow was previously a Conservative MP before he was elected to the role; following convention he then gave up any party affiliation.
Nearly two million people signed a petition calling for Mr Trump's state visit to be cancelled in just days after it was announced. MPs are to debate the issue in Westminster Hall.