Jeremy Corbyn today snubbed the Queen’s invite to attend a state banquet in honour of Donald Trump’s visit to the UK and called the US President a ‘racist and misogynist’.
The Labour leader has been accused of disrespecting Her Majesty by refusing to go to the Buckingham Palace event this summer as Britain and America mark 75 years since D-Day.
Commons Speaker John Bercow and Liberal Democrat leader Sir Vince Cable have also already declined to attend the dinner, and Mr Bercow is yet to invite President Trump to address MPs, as is traditional when a US President visits Britain.
Mr Corbyn, the would-be prime minister who has met with Hamas and IRA terrorists, today refused to dine with the US President, having joined 100,000 anti-Trump protesters when he last came to Britain in 2018.
The Labour leader attended a 2015 state banquet thrown for China’s President Xi but said today: ‘Theresa May should not be rolling out the red carpet for a state visit to honour a President who rips up vital international treaties, backs climate change denial and uses racist and misogynist rhetoric.
‘Maintaining an important relationship with the United States does not require the pomp and ceremony of a state visit. It is disappointing that the Prime Minister has again opted to kowtow to this US administration’.
But in a bizarre twist he has opened the door to a meeting away from Buckingham Palace, and said: ‘I would welcome a meeting with President Trump to discuss all matters of interest’.
It is expected 150 guests will be invited to the State Banquet at Buckingham Palace, including political leaders and other public figures with cultural, diplomatic and economic links to the US – although the full list has not been released.
Mr Trump and his wife Melania will be guests of the Queen during the three-day visit, which begins on June 3 – although they have not been invited to stay at Buckingham Palace because it is ‘undergoing renovation works’.
Jeremy Corbyn today snubbed the Queen’s invite to attend a State Banquet for Donald Trump (right today) calling the US President a ‘racist and misogynist’
The Commons Speaker John Bercow has also been accused of disrespecting Her Majesty by refusing to go to the Buckingham Palace event this summer
Mr Corbyn (left) arriving for the state banquet at Buckingham Palace in London for President of China Xi Jinping in 2015. He won’t be doing the same for Mr Trump
Trump is pictured at Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire, with Prime Minister Theresa May during his last visit in July 2018
Mr Bercow said in 2017 he was ‘strongly opposed’ to granting the President the honour of a speech to MPs and peers in the historic Westminster Hall because of his controversial ban on migrants from certain Muslim countries.
And now it appears the Speaker, who represents the Commons, will refuse to sit in the same room as him for a meal.
A spokesman for Mr Bercow said: ‘Mr Speaker has been invited to the Banquet, but he will not be attending’ – but would not give a reason.
Jeremy Corbyn ruled out going today and Lib Dem leader Sir Vince Cable has already turned down his invite.
British taxpayers are facing an £18million bill to host Donald Trump when the U.S. President makes a state visit in June.
The Government was accused of ‘wasting taxpayers’ money’ on the ‘pomp and ceremony’ of an official trip after Trump and his wife Melania accepted the Queen’s invitation.
His working visit last year attracted huge protests in London and additional policing costs ran into the millions.
The President’s opponents have already vowed to ‘bring out the baby blimp’ – an inflatable caricature depicting Trump as an infant – for a second time this year.
Trump will be in Britain from June 3 to June 5 on his first state visit to the UK, which will see him take part in D-Day commemorations.
The Queen and Trump also inspected the Guard of Honour formed of the Coldstream Guards during his previous visit
Jeremy Corbyn couldn’t resist an opportunity to return to his protesting days as he took to the streets along with 100,000 others to demonstrate against President Trump’s visit to the country last year
Trump was promised the official trip by Theresa May after he was elected in 2016 but it was postponed amid protests against his policies in London.
He will hold a bilateral meeting with Mrs May during the trip and attend a ceremony in Portsmouth to commemorate the 75th anniversary of D-Day.
However he will not get a carriage ride down The Mall because of security fears.
Trump’s two predecessors, George W. Bush and Barack Obama, also met the Queen on state visits during their terms in the Oval Office.
John Bercow is also under growing pressure to allow Mr Trump to address Parliament.
His House of Lords counterpart Lord Fowler has said there is ‘a strong case’ for a speech by the President, particularly as his visit coincides with the 70th anniversary of D-Day.
He said he would have to discuss any request to speak with Mr Bercow.
Yesterday Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt said Mr Trump should be invited.
Asked at a Westminster lunch whether he would support an address to Parliament, Mr Hunt said: ‘Yes I would. I think it is very important when you have a state visit by our closest and most important ally that we think about the office as much as the person.
‘I hope we make the best possible welcome for President Trump. He is a controversial politician, but in the end his visit is about more than Trump’s policies, it is about the alliance between the United States and United Kingdom that goes back many, many years.
‘The appropriate thing to do is to show him the best possible welcome.’
The speakers of both Houses of Parliament have said that no request has yet been received for Mr Trump to speak in Westminster Hall. Downing Street says it has no control over the decision, which is a matter for Parliament.
Mr Hunt’s comments came as Liberal Democrat leader Sir Vince Cable revealed he has turned down an invitation to a state banquet with Mr Trump at Buckingham Palace.
Betty Boothroyd tore into John Bercow yesterday over his refusal to allow Donald Trump to address the Commons.
The respected former Speaker said the US President should be ‘welcomed’ into Parliament in June – and said it was not up to her successor to block him.
In her most strongly-worded criticism of the present Speaker yet, she told the Daily Mail: ‘No Speaker should indulge himself in personalities and whom he approves or disapproves. Speakers must always remember they are the servant of the House and not its master.’
Baroness Boothroyd said the US President should be ‘welcomed’ into Parliament in June – and said it was not up to her successor to block him. She is pictured at a ‘People’s Vote’ rally earlier this month
Mr Bercow said in 2017 that he would be unwilling to allow Mr Trump to make a formal address in Westminster Hall, as Barack Obama did during his state visit in 2011. He is pictured above
The 89-year-old peer said it was Parliament’s duty to stand with the President as he visits the country to commemorate the US and British forces who fought alongside each other on D-Day.
The state visit has been timed to coincide with the 75th anniversary of the Allied invasion of France in June.
Mr Bercow said in 2017 that he would be unwilling to allow Mr Trump to make a formal address in Westminster Hall, as Barack Obama did during his state visit in 2011.
US President Trump and Melania will enjoy inspecting the troops, lunching with the Queen and then eating off 4,000-piece dinner service at Buckingham Palace state banquet
Donald Trump can expect a military welcome, a lavish lunch with the Queen and a banquet at Buckingham Palace during his state visit in June.
Details of the ceremonial elements of the visit have yet to be announced by Buckingham Palace, but the visit is likely to follow the traditional format of an official open-air welcome featuring prestigious British regiments, lunch with the Queen and a state banquet.
When the couple arrive in London they will be met by the Queen and other members of the Royal Family. This usually takes place on the Horse Guards Parade.
To mark the beginning of a state visit, gun salutes are fired from Green Park and the Tower of London.
Trump and his wife will be invited to inspect a Guard of Honour before heading back to the Palace as part of a carriage procession, escorted by a large number of soldiers from the Household Cavalry.
On the evening of June 3 the state banquet will take place at the Ballroom in Buckingham Palace.
Donald Trump and his wife Melania met the Queen at Windsor Castle last summer
The Buckingham Palace Ballroom is pictured with 171 guests invited to the last US state visit when Barack and Michelle Obama visited the Queen in May 2011
This is a formal occasion with 150 guests, invited on their cultural, diplomatic or economic link to the USA.
Preparations for this dinner can start up to a year in advance, but the bulk of the organising usually takes around five days.
Before dinner is served the Queen will make a speech and propose a toast to Trump, who will then give his own speech in return.
The last US state visit in 2011 when Barack and Michelle Obama visited the Queen saw the palace invite 171 guests to the state banquet.
They included Tom Hanks, Kevin Spacey, Tim Burton, as well as then Prime Minister David Cameron, his deputy Nick Clegg and the then Mayor of London Boris Johnson.
They dined on lamb, potatoes boulangere and vanilla chocolate.
Wines served included Ridgeview Cuvée Merret Fitzrovia Rosé 2004 and Chablis Grand Cru Les Clos 2004.
During his last visit to the UK Trump stayed at Winfield House, the residence of the US ambassador.
The property occupies twelve and half acres on the north-west side of Regent’s Park and has the second largest private garden in central London, after Buckingham Palace.
He could be staying there again this year as the East Wing of Buckingham Palace is undergoing renovation work.
It has not yet been confirmed what Trump will be doing on June 4, but state visits include a meeting with the Prime Minister, Government ministers and the main political parties.
The Mall is pictured decorated with Union Jack and USA flags on the Obamas’ state visit in 2011
China’s President Xi Jingping is pictured getting out of his carriage as guards salute at Buckingham Palace during the last major state visit to the UK in October 2015
Her Majesty and US President Barack Obama chat together during a State Banquet at Buckingham Palace on May 24, 2011 in London
Queen Elizabeth II, US President Barack Obama, Prince Charles, First Lady Michelle Obama and Prince Philip during a welcome ceremony at Buckingham Palace for US President Barack Obama
President of China Xi Jinping and Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II attend a state banquet at Buckingham Palace on October 20, 2015 in London, during his state visit
It has not yet been confirmed if Jeremy Corbyn and Sir Vince Cable will be in attendance.
Trump could be invited to another luxurious dinner hosted by the Lord Mayor and the City of London Corporation, where he would meet business leaders to discuss the economy and trade relations.
One June 5 Trump will attend events in Portsmouth to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings.
The gathering on Southsea Common will involve live performances, military displays and tributes to the Allied troops who fought in Normandy, including a flypast of 26 RAF aircraft and at least 11 Royal Navy vessels in the Solent.
Chinese and British flags fly on Pall Mall on November 7, 2005 in London, England as the Chinese President, Hu Jintao made a state 3 day visit to the UK
Chinese President Xi Jingping is pictured centre with The Queen right and the Duchess of Cambridge left at Buckingham Palace on China’s state visit to the UK in October 2015
After the state visit has ended he will travel with Theresa May to Normandy to attend a number of other commemorative events including the inauguration of the British Normandy memorial in Ver-Sur-Mer.
The last significant state visit made by a foreign leader was China in October 2015.
President Xi Jingping and his wife dined with the Queen and other estemed guests at Buckingham Palace and drank traditional English pints in a pub with then Prime Minister David Cameron.
The Mall was adorned with the red and gold of the Chinese flag, which will turn to the red white and blue of the US flag when Trump arrives in June.
The last US state visit to the UK was made by former president Barack Obama and his First Lady Michelle in 2011.