UK speaker criticised over Trump parliament tirade

Commons Speaker John Bercow has been criticised for voicing his opposition to US President Donald Trump addressing Parliament during a state visit. Senior Tories told the BBC his comments had caused a lot of anger, with one saying it was “utterly outrageous” and others saying he should be impartial. Mr Bercow said “opposition to racism and sexism” were “hugely important considerations” for the Commons. US Congressman Joe Wilson said it was a “slap” to Mr Trump’s Republican Party.

I am against the travel ban… but it’s unwise to ban the legitimately-elected president of the United States of America, our closest ally, when we’re trying to urge them not to shoot from the hip.

Conservative MP Nadhim Zahawi

Some opposition MPs applauded his comments, but senior Conservatives were highly critical. More than 160 of parliament’s 650 MPs have signed a parliamentary motion opposing an address by Trump, citing the travel ban and his comments on torture and women. May on Monday told MPs that at a summit last week, she had urged her fellow European leaders to “engage patiently and constructively” with the new US administration.

Politics