Theresa May today condemned a US policy of caging children trying to cross the border but insisted Donald Trump should still be welcome to Britain next month.
The Prime Minister said images of vast detention camps housing young children who had been separated from their parents after illegal border crossings were ‘deeply disturbing’ and ‘wrong’.
But Mrs May insisted it was still right for the US President to be welcomed to Britain for talks, insisting the ‘long and enduring relationship’ with America meant disputes could be raised.
The Prime Minister was challenged by SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford to halt plans for Mr Trump’s visit if there was no change of policy .
Pressure had been mounting on Mrs May to condemn Mr Trump after Downing Street yesterday said only that similar policies would not be implemented in the UK’s ‘humane’ system.
Business Minister Sam Gyimah led demands among Tories while Labour insists Mrs May must condemn her ally.
Theresa May (pictured today at PMQs) is under mounting pressure to condemn Donald Trump over claims the US government is caging the children of refugees trying to reach America
The President has faced international criticism after images of children locked up on the southern border emerged
But Downing Street has gone no further than insisting similar policies would not be implemented in the UK’s ‘humane’ system (pictured is a detention facility in Texas)
At Prime Minister’s Questions, Mrs May said: ‘The pictures of children being held in cages are deeply disturbing.
‘This is wrong, not something we agree with and not the UK approach.
‘It is right that there will be a range of issues I will discuss with President Trump.’
Asked by Labour’s Gavin Shuker whether she will revoke Mr Trump’s invitation to visit, Mrs May said she was frequently challenged about raising issues with the US.
‘We do that. When we disagree with the US we tell them so.
‘But we also have key shared interests with the US.’
Mrs May said the countries would ‘continue to have a Special Relationship’.
Mrs May had been under growing pressure to stand up to Mr Trump following claims that some 2,000 children have been separated from their families in six weeks on the southern US border.
He is being urged by opponents – including his own wife and leading Republicans – to end a ‘zero-tolerance’ approach to illegal border crossings
Mr Trump is due in Britain in three weeks time for his first visit as President and the Prime Minister will be desperate for the visit to go well.
Mr Gyimah last night quoted former US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright attacking the policy.
The minister said: ‘Separating children from their parents in this way is beyond dreadful.
‘This policy is indefensible, pure and simple.’
Business Minister Sam Gyimah led demands among Tories while Labour insists Mrs May must condemn her ally
Mr Gyimah said the US policy was ‘beyond dreadful’ and was ‘indefensible, pure and simple’
Senior Tory MP Tom Tughendhat, chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, said ‘The US is one of the great champions of liberty in the world’
Senior Tory MP Tom Tughendhat, chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, said: ‘The US is one of the great champions of liberty in the world. These scenes are deeply saddening and remind me more of Iraq and Afghanistan.
‘It is traumatic and cruel to separate children from their parents. The US is better than this.’
Shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry said: ‘It is repugnant to think that, in just three weeks’ time, Theresa May’s Government will roll out the red carpet for a man like that.
‘What will it take before she starts standing up to this president on behalf of the British people, rather than meekly holding his hand and hoping he will eventually start to behave?’
Protests have been mounting in the US over the controversial policy, including on Capitol Hill last night (pictured)
Asked yesterday if Mrs May thought it was acceptable to cage children, her spokesman said: ‘I would point you to the UK’s own immigration policy.’
He added: ‘It does not apply these measures and does not intend to do so. The welfare and safeguarding of children is at the heart of our immigration policy.
‘We do not separate child refugee or asylum seekers from their families.’
The spokesman was asked if Mrs May would raise the issue with Mr Trump but would only say that the UK’s own policy was ‘humane’ and ‘we believe that we have a humane system’.
‘Our own position is guided by the refugee convention and the European Convention on Human Rights. That is what we adhere to, but obviously I can’t speak for other countries,’ he added.
Laura Bush, the wife of Republican former president George W Bush, has branded the policy ‘cruel and immoral’, and Mr Trump’s own wife Melania issued a statement to say that she ‘hates to see children separated from their families’.
This policy requires adult migrants to be held in custody for prosecution, separated from their children who are allegedly kept in cages.
However, not all members of the Government have ducked criticism of Mr Trump’s policies towards refugee children.
Shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry said it was ‘repugnant’ Britain planned to roll out the red carpet for Mr Trump in three weeks time