John Bercow’s snub to Donald Trump by refusing him an invite to Parliament risks damaging the special relationship, warn critics amid anger at ‘biased’ speaker
- Britain is preparing for a US state visit in June to coincide with D-Day anniversary
- Bercow’s decision not to invite Trump to parliament has angered US officials
- It is also embarrassing for the government as it attempts to stage the visit
Commons Speaker John Bercow has been told that Donald Trump must be allowed to address Parliament this summer – or risk damaging the special relationship.
Britain and the US are preparing for a state visit in June to coincide with the 75th anniversary of D-Day.
But Mr Bercow is continuing to refuse to extend the traditional courtesy of asking the President to address both Houses of Parliament.
His decision has angered US officials and become an embarrassment to the Government as it attempts to stage a state visit three years after it was first offered by the Prime Minister.
Commons Speaker John Bercow is continuing to refuse to invite the US President to the Houses of Parliament when he visits the UK on a state visit in June
The decision has angered US officials and become a further source of embarrassment for the UK government as it prepares for a state visit first offered three years ago
Defence minister Tobias Ellwood said the UK should ‘leverage’ Mr Trump’s state visit and give him the chance to formally address Parliament.
Writing in the Daily Telegraph he said: ‘D-Day represents the bedrock of our international relationships.
‘As we pay tribute to a generation of lives to defend our values, we can reaffirm our commitment to our allies and most crucially the US to defend those same values once again under threat.
‘The special relationship matters. It is greater than any one individual. So we should leverage the US president’s state visit, including the opportunity formally to address Parliament.’
In 2017 Mr Bercow said he was ‘strongly opposed’ to a presidential address, citing ‘opposition to racism and sexism’. He described it as ‘an earned honour’, not a right.
Months later, Mr Bercow said the president had still not ‘earned that honour’.
Asked if he still held that view, a spokesman for the Speaker said: ‘We don’t have any comment.’
Donald Trump pictured with Melania stepping off Air Force One as they arrived at Palm Beach International Airport earlier this week
Sebastian Gorka, Mr Trump’s former deputy assistant in the White House, said Mr Bercow’s decision would be interpreted as a snub.
He said: ‘The UK is meant to be the mother of democracy. The Speaker is slapping the face of British tradition. This is a totalitarian approach. You don’t limit speech you disagree with, you should actually engage in dialogue.
‘To think that in the land of Magna Carta, Winston Churchill and the Battle of Britain, this is how you deal with your most important partner in the world? This is an outrage.’
Lord Fowler, Speaker of the Lords, last year criticised Mr Bercow for failing to consult him over whether Mr Trump should speak to Parliament.
Barack Obama addressed Parliament during a state visit in 2011. Others who have been given the honour include Ronald Reagan and German chancellor Angela Merkel.
A senior minister said last night: ‘It is staggeringly arrogant and inappropriate for the Speaker to assume the right of veto on this. His job is to be a referee, not a judge, and for him to impose his own opinions on the visit of a President is corrupting the role he holds.’