LONDON-(WN)-British lawmakers are set to
debate a call for U.S. President Donald Trump to be denied a state visit to the
U.K. but the Conservative government insists the invitation remains firmly in
place.
Trump opponents plan to demonstrate outside
Parliament in London as legislators hold a non-binding debate Monday. It comes
in response to an online petition with more than 1.8 million signatures saying
a formal state visit “would cause embarrassment to Her Majesty the Queen.”
On state visits, foreign leaders are welcomed
with royal pomp and military ceremony, and usually stay at Buckingham Palace as
guests of Queen Elizabeth II. Lawmakers will also consider an opposing
petition, with more than 300,000 signatures, backing the state visit. All
petitions that receive more than 100,000 signatures are eligible for debate in
parliament, though not a binding vote.
During her 65-year reign, the queen has
welcomed many leaders with less-than-spotless records, including Russian
President Vladimir Putin and the late Romanian dictator Nicolae Ceausescu. A
2015 state visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping drew protests from Tibetan
groups and human rights activists.
But Trump’s invitation has sparked
unprecedented opposition, especially after his executive order temporarily
barring citizens of seven majority-Muslim nations from entering the United
States.
Thousands of people demonstrated against the
order in British towns and cities, and London Mayor Sadiq Khan urged the
government to reconsider its invitation in light of Trump’s “cruel” migrant
ban, which has since been suspended by U.S. courts.
House of Commons Speaker John Bercow set
aside his customary political neutrality to say that Trump should not be
invited to address Parliament when he comes to Britain an honor given to his
predecessor, Barack Obama.
Dates have not yet been announced for Trump’s
visit, expected later this year. The government said in a statement responding
to the petition that the state visit “reflects the importance of the
relationship between the United States of America and the United Kingdom.” “We
look forward to welcoming President Trump once dates and arrangements are
finalized,” it said.
According to the Guardian newspaper, options
under consideration include inviting Trump in August when Parliament is in
recess allowing the government to swerve the controversy over whether the
President should address lawmakers. That would also allow the Queen to host
Trump at her summer retreat in the north of Scotland, Balmoral Castle, rather
than the more high-profile Buckingham Palace in London.
If Trump's trip was downgraded to an "official
visit", the President would be deprived of a ride in the Queen's carriage,
gun salutes, a banquet at Buckingham Palace and other ceremonial honors
typically associated with full state visits.
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