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Inviting Donald Trump on a state visit to Britain is a 'no brainer and in the UK’s 'national interest', a former Conservative minister and Hillary Clinton supporter says

  • Debate triggered by a petition, signed by 1.8m people

  • Labour's Paul Flynn compares president to a 'petulant child'

  • Several Tory MPs defend the decision to invite Trump

  • Hundreds of protesters gather outside in Parliament Square

  • Protests taking place in Birmingham, Manchester, Sheffield

  • PM has already made clear the state visit is going ahead

Inviting Donald Trump on a state visit to Britain is a “no brainer” and in the UK’s “national interest”, according to a former Conservative minister and Hillary Clinton supporter.

Sir Simon Burns said allowing the visit was “infinitely the right thing to do” if it strengthened the special relationship between Britain and America.

The comments from Sir Simon are notable because he campaigned for Mrs Clinton against Mr Trump in last year's presidential election.

They came as MPs were debating a petition signed by more than 1.85 million people, calling for the visit to be stripped of the trappings of a state occasion in order to avoid causing "embarrassment" to the Queen.

They were also considering an alternative petition, backed by almost 312,000 signatories, demanding the state visit goes ahead.

Anti-Trump chants were heard from more than 2,000 protesters gathered in Parliament Square a few hundred yards from where the MPs were sitting in a committee room off Westminster Hall.

Sir Simon told MPs in the Commons that it was a “no brainer” that the invite to Mr Trump should be kept as post-Brexit Britain will need to keep America close. 

He said: “What we have got to do is look at what is going to be most helpful for Britain, for its future policy and development, and I think it is a no brainer that working closer with the United States is far more important for this country, particularly as we begin negotiations and the exit from the EU in two, two and a half years' time. We cannot afford to be isolated and to ignore our friends.”

Fellow Tory MP Crispin Blunt, chairman of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee, also backed the visit but said it should be delayed until 2020. 

“The truth is we need to calm this debate and we need to take the hype out of it,” he said, adding that it would be a “mistake” to allow the visit to go ahead this year.

He told MPs: “I think we need to point out that in 2020 we are going to have the 400th anniversary of one of the most remarkable events in British American history, which is the Pilgrim Fathers - incredibly important in the United States - and it will be an utterly appropriate moment to be marked by a state visit.”

A Tory former minister faced an angry backlash after apparently defending Donald Trump over his remarks - recorded by a US television station - that he would grab a woman “by the p***y”. 

Sir Edward Leigh said the comments were “horrible and ridiculous” but that many politicians will have made "some ridiculous sexual comment" in private. 

The remarks were met with groans of outrage by several MPs in Westminster Hall for the debate. 

Petition: Prevent Trump from state visit to UK

Earlier veteran Labour MP Paul Flynn highlighted the fact that Mr Trump is only the third US president to be given the honour of a state visit and said he was invited too soon in his already highly controversial presidency. 

Barack Obama only received an invitation after 758 days, while it took 978 days before his predecessor, George W Bush, was offered a state visit, compared with seven days for Mr Trump. 

Repeating comments made by former Foreign Office permanent secretary Lord Ricketts, that the Queen has now been put in a “very difficult position”, Mr Flynn said: “I believe for that reason alone that we should consider this, and the Government should consider this with a bit of humility... and change the invitation to one for a visit, not a state visit.”

In its official response to the petitions, the Government stressed ministers believe "the President of the United States should be extended the full courtesy of a State Visit". 

“We look forward to welcoming President Trump once dates and arrangements are finalised,” the response said. 

7:00PM

Summary at 7pm: MPs attack Trump offer

MPs have warned Donald Trump will be able to detect Theresa May's desperation for a US-UK trade deal by the hasty offer of a state visit.

Labour's Paul Flynn also compared the US president's behaviour to a "petulant child" as he encouraged ministers to avoid making the mistakes of the past when "very unsavoury characters" have received invitations for state visits.

The Newport West MP led a parliamentary debate on two petitions about the Prime Minister's decision to extend an invitation to Mr Trump.

One petition, with more than 1.85 millions signatures, calls for the visit to be stripped of the trappings of a state occasion in order to avoid causing "embarrassment" to the Queen.

The other, supported by around 312,000 signatories, insists the state visit goes ahead.

The Government, in its official response to the petitions, stressed ministers believed "the President of the United States should be extended the full courtesy of a state visit".

Speaking in Westminster Hall, Mr Flynn said only two US presidents have been offered a state visit since 1952.

SNP MP Alex Salmond, intervening, noted: "The question of the seven-day invitation - would you interpret desperation as the reason?

"And if you're able to see desperation for a trade deal, do you think that President Trump might be able to detect it as well?"

Mr Flynn replied: "The word comes to mind when we think of the circumstances of our beleaguered Prime Minister."

Labour MP Paula Sherriff (Dewsbury) also said of Mr Trump: "To use the expression 'Grab them by the pussy' describes a sexual assault, and therefore suggests he should not be afforded a visit to our Queen."

Conservative Jacob Rees-Mogg (North East Somerset) recalled previous invitations, asking Mr Flynn: "What complaint did you make when Emperor Hirohito came here, who was responsible for the rape of Nanking?"

Mr Flynn replied: "There have been many people here who were less welcome than others. That's absolutely true.

"But we've had people here, very unsavoury characters and not from the United States as it happens.

"But certainly we can't try to imitate the errors of the past. We should set an example of making sure we don't make those mistakes again."

6:51PM

Short - not sweet

The voices in favour of Donald Trump's state visit seem to have disappeared.

Labour's Liam Byrne, MP for Birmingham Hodge Hill, is speaking now.

He says it would be hard now to withdraw the offer and "our best hope is we keep it short" because, he says, "my fear is it will not be sweet".

 

6:44PM

Meanwhile on Parliament Square

A few pictures from outside: 

Labour's Naz Shah, who spoke against the state visit earlier, has also popped out to address the crowd: 

 

6:30PM

Speak up, please

The SNP's Carol Monaghan is asked to project her voice because she can't be heard over the sound of protesters outside. She agrees.

A little louder, the Glasgow North West MP says "showing an example to young people" is in the national interest, not granting a state visit to Donald Trump.

She also asks why the debate is not being held in the main chamber.

6:21PM

Diane Abbott: There is a dark shadow of racism

Outside Labour's Diane Abbott is addressing protesters in Parliament Square.

The Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott says:

"We live in an area where there is a dark shadow of racism and anti-immigrant sentiment internationally.

"It’s hard to stand up to it and I have always tried to stand up to racism and anti-immigrant sentiment all my political life.

"We know the vales that Donald Trump represents – with Donald Trump you don’t have to look in a crystal ball, you can read the book.

"He was supported in his presidential campaign by white supremacists.

"Even in the first weeks of his presidency, he had had a visceral anti-immigrant line.

"We hear that he has been invited for state visit. Whatever you think, a state visit is meant to be an honour.

"I would say that Donald Trump has done nothing to be honoured for.

"As for Donald Trump addressing MPs in Parliament, that was an honour reserved for people like Nelson Mandela.

"How can anybody think that would be appropriate for Donald Trump? “So we live in a very difficult and dark era.

"We have to support each other, we have to fight on and we have to say here in the UK, here in London – no place for racism, no place for anti-Semitism, no place for Islamophobia and no place for stirring up hatred against immigrants."

6:06PM

Sir Edward causes a stir

Sir Edward Leigh causes a bit of a stir by defending some of Mr Trump's more controversial behaviour with the admission that he has made the odd sexist comment in the past.

He says we all have at some point, in private at least.

"Which one of us has not made some ridiculous sexual comment some time in our pasts?"

Sir Edward also says he does not think the travel ban is racist, citing Indonesia as the world's largest Muslim country upon which there is "no question" of a US travel ban.

5:46PM

'He is definitively different'

Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee Crispin Blunt, the honourable member for Reigate, is speaking now and says the petition is about avoiding embarrassment for Her Majesty.

But, he notes, as the Trump invitation is in the name of Her Majesty the surest way of embarrassing her would be to withdraw the invitation.

"We are dealing with a president who is the first non politician and non serviceman to be elected ... He is definitively different," Mr Blunt adds.

"It is incredibly important that our Prime Minister has secured the first voice into the White House of a foreign leader.

"Now the truth is we need to calm this debate and we need to take the hype out of it ... The invitation has been issued, I don't think it could or should be properly rescinded, so there is the possibility that the invitation will be taken up during the course of this year, I think that would be a mistake.

"I think we need to point out that in 2020 we are going to have the 400th anniversary of one of the most remarkable events in British American history, which is the Pilgrim Fathers - incredibly important in the United States - and it will be an utterly appropriate moment to be marked by a state visit."

5:41PM

For and against

A succession of Labour MPs have now spoken against the visit, including Paul Flynn, Paula Sherriff, David Lammy, Stephen Doughty, Rushanara Ali, Naz Shah.

While those for include Jacob Rees-Mogg, Nigel Evans, Julian Lewis, James Cartlidge and Sir Simon Burns.

Labour MP Rushanari Ali (Bethnal Green and Bow) says:

"It is deeply saddening and shameful that colleagues who are defending this visit are not recognising the serious concern that people have, particularly Muslims, but many others, about the dangers of Donald Trump.

"And it's time they spoke out against that kind of hostility, it is deeply divisive and it's time they addressed this issue instead of making excuses and being apologists for his hatred."

A few minutes ago, Conservative James Cartlidge said there would be "smiles all round in the Kremlin" if the UK withdrew its offer of a state visit to Mr Trump.

He added he would also make a similar invite to Russian president Vladimir Putin despite aggression from his forces.

Mr Cartlidge said:

"Foreign policy for this country is best served by following the national interest, not through gestures or knee-jerk reactions.

"Through calm effective diplomacy in the old-fashioned way, often behind the scenes, and through working towards a long-term strategy rather than something which frankly is redolent of student politics and would be a gesture that would get us nowhere."

Mr Cartlidge said the UK needs to be as close as possible to the US administration so it can raise concerns, adding if the state visit offer is rescinded then the UK will gain nothing.

"I'll tell you who will win - there's one man, and that's Vladimir Putin.

"There will be smiles all round in the Kremlin if we follow this petition because the one thing they want in the Kremlin above all else is to divide the West.

"They want the UK and US divided, they do not want a strong transatlantic partnership - that's not just in our interests but in the global interest.

"We would be crackers to do so.

"Indeed, having said all that, I would offer a state visit to Vladimir Putin - as was done by Tony Blair."

5:31PM

'It is in our national interest'

Another Tory MP is up speaking in favour of the visit.

Sir Simon Burns says the UK should be very careful to maintain the "special relationship" with the US.

"I believe it is in our national interest to ensure that we can continue to be a candid friend to the US, he says.

"We cannot do that if we totally ignore the US ... we would become isolated and less influential.

"What we have got to do is look at what is going to be most helpful for Britain, for its future policy and development, and I think it is a no brainer that working closer with the United States is far more important for this country, particularly as we begin negotiations and the exit from the EU in two, two and a half years' time.

"We cannot afford to be isolated and to ignore our friends."

5:14PM

'Total disaster for this country'

Alex Salmond is up and talking about his experience of Donald Trump, having met him in his constituency.

The former SNP leader says it would be "total disaster for this country" to negotiate with Donald Trump from a weak position.

Mr Salmond, in his speech, says:

"As an example of fawning subservience... the Prime Minister's holding hands across the ocean visit would be difficult to match.

"To do it in the name of shared values was stomach churning.

"What exactly are the shared values that this House, this country, would hope to have with President Trump?"

The former Scottish first minister said the US president is "not a stupid man", adding it is a "recipe for total and utter disaster" for the UK to advertise its weak position to Mr Trump.

"From my experience of negotiating with Donald Trump, let me tell the honourable member, never ever do it from a weak position because the result will be total disaster."

Meanwhile, the MPs can't hear much from the protesters outside yet, but they are there:

 

5:10PM

Donald Trump saviour of Nato

Conservative Julian Lewis, chairman of the defence select committee, warnsagainst berating Mr Trump given the importance of the US to preventing World War Three via its Nato links.

He described the alliance as "our best guarantee" of another world war not breaking out in the 21st century, adding:

"If you knew that it'd make a significant difference to bringing him on side to continue with the policies that prevented a conflagration on that scale, do you really think it is more important to berate him, castigate him and encourage him to retreat into some sort of bunker rather than to do what the Prime Minister did, perhaps more literally than any of us expected, which is to take him by the hand and try and lead him down the paths of righteousness?

"Because I have no doubt at all about this matter. What really matters to the future of Europe is that transatlantic alliance continues and should prosper.

"There's every prospect of that happening providing we reach out to this inexperienced individual and try and persuade him - and there's every chance of persuading him that he should continue with the policy pursued by his predecessors."

5:01PM

David Lammy: 'This country is greater than that'

David Lammy MP is up. He questions why it took only seven days for Trump to be offered the full state visit.

"We didn't due this for Kennedy, we didn't do the for Truman, we didn't do this for Reagan," he says.

"I think this country is greater than that ... I'm ashamed, frankly, that it has come to this."

 

4:54PM

Evans defends state visit

Mr Flynn is told to wind up as he was only meant to speak for 15 minutes and finishes with this warning: "There are great dangers in attempting to give him [Trump] the best accolade we can."

Tory MP Nigel Evans then steps up, for a maximum of five minutes he is told, and tells those who are finding it difficult to accept Trump as US President should "get over it". 

Mr Evans also defends Donald Trumps saying: "I do respect that he stood on a platform on which he is now delivering."

He added: "He is going to go down in history as being roundly condemned as the only politician to deliver on his promises."

Mr Evans adds that he has seen "no evidence that he is racist" and makes the point that the Chinese were given a state visit 10 years after Tienanmen Square massacre and yet "where were the protest?".

"It's double standards," he says.

"We have to ask ourselves why is it that people felt so left behind that they made the democratic decisions that they have which we think we can't understand - how could you possibly vote for Brexit? How could you possibly vote for Donald Trump?

"The fact is that the people have. These were the forgotten people. Just like we had the forgotten people in the United Kingdom, there are the forgotten people in the United States of America."

 

4:43PM

Trump is 'like a petulant child'

Mr Flynn is not holding back.

He accuses Donald Trump of complaining about his own election result, lying about just about everything and acting "like a petulant child".

He also attacks Trump be for being "almost unique" in his belief in nuclear proliferation.

The Labour veteran added:

"I believe for that reason alone that we should consider this, and the Government should consider this with a bit of humility... and change the invitation to one for a visit, not a state visit."

 

 

4:33PM

And we're off

Paul Flynn, the 82-year-old Labour MP for Newport, starts the debate on Donald Trump's state visit to the UK.

"There was a great feeling of concern that welled up in this petition," he says, before following up with a zinger.

"The intellectual capacity of the president is protozoan," Mr Flynn says.

Mr Flynn highlighted the fact that Mr Trump is only the third US president to be given the honour of a state visit and said he was invited too soon in his already highly controversial presidency.

Barack Obama only received an invitation after 758 days, while it took 978 days before his predecessor, George W Bush, was offered a state visit, compared with seven days for Mr Trump.

Mr Flynn repeated comments made by former Foreign Office permanent secretary Lord Ricketts, who said the Queen has now been put in a "very difficult position".

 

 

4:30PM

Protesters gather outside Parliament

The Green Party's Caroline Lucas, who has made her views on Trump clear many times before, is in early to get a good seat:

 Meanwhile, protesters are gathering outside on Parliament Square:

 

4:15PM

The Trump debate: What to expect

There is no sign so far of the debate kicking off - MPs are currently discussing the Vauxhall takeover bid.

But here's a quick guide to what is in store.

Tonight's Trump state visit debate is due to take place in Westminster Hall, which is the House of Commons second debating chamber.

It could take up to three hours and, it must be noted, has no legal force.

The debate is, however, being seen as a type of anti-Trump protest and will give MPs a chance to vent their opinions on the new US President.

Outside there will also be a protest which - if as expected it is well attended - will probably be audible to MPs in the hall.

Speakers in Parliament Square including Owen Jones and Green MP Caroline Lucas.

Other protests are taking place in Birmingham, Manchester, Sheffield, Liverpool, Leeds, York, Newcastle, Edinburgh and Glasgow.

The historic city of Ely is hosting a postcard-writing session at a tea house.

And activists in Reading will be creating a candlelit "circle of light".