Yahoo News Authoritarian leaders with poor human rights records John Bercow has allowed to address Parliament
John Bercow, the Speaker of the House of Commons, has been accused of hypocrisy by voicing opposition to Donald Trump addressing Parliament during his state visit to Britain.
He drew widespread criticism after launching an extraordinary attack, saying that the US President's migrant travel ban from seven countries had hardened his hostility to any high-profile Westminster address.
But Mr Bercow has previously allowed authoritarian leaders with poor human rights records to address the Houses of Parliament.
He has invited Chinese President Xi Jinping despite MPs being unhappy about his policy on Tibet, and the Emir of Kuwait, which bans British dual nationals of Israeli origin, to speak in Parliament.
Nadhim Zahawi, the Iraqi-born Conservative MP who previously sharply criticised Mr Trump's travel ban after learning he could be caught up in it, suggested Mr Bercow was a hypocrite.
He told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme: "I think it is, in my book, unwise and he opens himself up to the accusation of hypocrisy, that's my point.
Mr Zahawi added that the Speaker should now "think about" his position and explain his remarks to Parliament.
2015 - China's President Xi Jinping
Despite protests during his visit to the UK in October 2015, President Xi addressed both MPs and peers in the Royal Gallery of Parliament.
China has long been accused of human rights abuses and targeting activists with harassment, imprisonment and torture.
Human Rights Watch (HRW) has said the Communist country curtails a wide range of fundamental rights.
According to a recent report by HRW, despite the change in leadership, the government remains “hostile to criticism” and targets activists and their family members.
The Muslim minority group is subject to “severe religious oppression” and in December 2014, the niqab - face veil - was banned in some areas.
Chinese President visit 2015 gallery
2012 - Kuwait's Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah
Mr Bercow gave a welcome address to introduce The Emir of Kuwait's address to MPs and peers in the Queen's Robing Room in November 2012.
Kuwait refuses entry to anyone with an Israeli passport, has a poor record on women's rights and aggressively cracks down on free speech.
In his speech, Mr Bercow said: "Your Highness, it is my privilege to welcome you here to our Parliament for this important stage of your state visit.
"Your presence here today is a welcome reminder of the many intimate ties that exist between our nations and our peoples."
2012 - Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono
The Indonesian leader addressed Parliament from the Queen's Robing Room as part of an official state visit, also in 2012.
But critics have accused him of doing little crack down on government corruption, repressive laws or alleged torture by security forces in the country.
Some of Speaker Bercow's other controversial moments:
Revealing he supported the hunting ban
Mr Bercow risked angering Conservative MPs by revealing that he was a supporter of the hunting ban to one of his constituents.
The Speaker said he agreed that hunting foxes to kill them was "wrong in the 21st century", amid calls for the ban to be repealed in 2011.
His comments represented a U-turn from his previous opposition to the ban and showed him abandon his supposed neutrality on controversial political issues.
Suggesting European immigrants have more work 'commitment'
The Speaker came under fire after suggesting that eastern European immigrants have more "aptitude and commitment" to work than British people.
Ukip leader Nigel Farage branded him a "disgrace" following the remarks, made during an official visit to the Romanian parliament in June 2013.
Mr Farage said the "outrageous" comments breached the traditional impartiality expected from the Commons Speaker.
Claiming £172 to be driven just 0.7 miles from Parliament
Mr Bercow's use of expenses has also raised eyebrows - particularly as he took office at the height of the scandal over Westminster perks.
He racked up a £172 bill being chauffeur-driven to a conference just 0.7 miles (1.1km) from Parliament.
Mr Bercow also spent £367 taking a car to Luton to deliver a speech on how MPs were restoring their reputation after the expenses scandal.
He spent thousands of pounds wining and dining fellow MPs - including more than £2,000 on a "standing down" dinner for his former deputy.
Billing the taxpayer £37,000 for 'vanity' portrait
A taxpayer-funded £37,000 portrait of the Speaker led to accusations of "vanity".
The official painting, by British artist Brendan Kelly, joined those of his predecessors going back to Sir Thomas More and featured a new coat of arms developed for Mr Bercow.
It shows Mr Bercow in full flow in the famous Speaker's chair, wearing black robes and a Commons tie.
The TaxPayers' Alliance pressure group said it was "very excessive" to "spend tens of thousands of pounds on a vanity portrait of himself".
