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UK Speaker 'strongly opposed' to Trump addressing Parliament due to 'racism and sexism'

Author
AP,
Publish Date
Tue, 7 Feb 2017, 9:53AM
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UK Speaker 'strongly opposed' to Trump addressing Parliament due to 'racism and sexism'

Author
AP,
Publish Date
Tue, 7 Feb 2017, 9:53AM

The Speaker of Britain's House of Commons says he strongly opposes letting US President Donald Trump address Parliament during a state visit to the UK

John Bercow said that he would have opposed the invitation even before Trump's temporary ban on citizens of seven majority-Muslim nations from entering the US.

"I am even more strongly opposed (now)," Bercow said relating to Trump's executive order on immigration to the US.

Bercow's intervention is unusual because Speakers are expected to remain above Parliament's partisan fray.

He was cheered by MPs when he said that, although Britain values its relationship with the US, "our opposition to racism and to sexism, and our support for equality before the law and an independent judiciary, are hugely important considerations."

Trump is due to visit Britain later this year.

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