Labour Minister Hits Out At Bid To Block Donald Trump From Addressing Parliament

A Labour minister has hit out at a campaign to block Donald Trump from addressing parliament when he visits the UK.

It emerged on Monday that MPs and peers had written to the speakers of both the Commons and the Lords calling on them to turn down any request for the US president to make a speech.

Labour peer Lord Foulkes said: “He is not a respecter of democracy, he does not respect the rule of law and we feel it would be inappropriate for him to address parliament. It would be an insult if he were allowed to do so.”

But education minister Stephen Morgan told LBC this morning: “I wouldn’t support such a block.

“It’s really important that we continue strong and effective relationships with one of our oldest allies in the world. President Trump came to my constituency to mark D-Day 75 a few years ago.

“I think it’s really important that we maintain strong and effective relationships with our allies in the US.”

Asked in a separate interview on Times Radio whether Trump should address parliament, the minister said: “I look forward to the US president addressing parliament in due course.”

Trump is set to come to the UK in September after King Charles invited him for an unprecedented second state visit.

Keir Starmer personally handed over the King’s invitation letter to Trump when he visited the White House in February.

Barack Obama addressed both houses of parliament when he had his own state visit in 2011.

But Commons speaker Lindsay Hoyle and Lord Speaker Lord McFall are being urged to follow the example of John Bercow, who blocked Trump from addressing parliament during his first state visit to the UK in 2019.

A spokesperson for Hoyle said: “Should a request be made to address the Houses of Parliament, it will be considered in the usual way. No request has been received, but any decision would be made by both speakers.”