Peers push for Donald Trump speech to Parliament

Donald Trump could address Parliament despite Commons Speaker John Bercow's opposition, according to peers.

Some peers want the US president to address MPs and members of the House of Lords in Parliament's Royal Gallery.

Conservative Lord Cormack said Mr Trump should be given the opportunity to speak to both Houses and be received "with proper good manners".

Conservative peer Lord Cormack who has suggested Donald Trump should address Parliament (Chris McAndrew/UK Parliament/(Attribution 3.0 Unported (CC BY 3.0)/PA)
Conservative peer Lord Cormack who has suggested Donald Trump should address Parliament (Chris McAndrew/UK Parliament/(Attribution 3.0 Unported (CC BY 3.0)/PA)

The Independent reported that peers were pushing for the president to speak in the Royal Gallery, a lavishly decorated room at the House of Lords end of the Palace of Westminster where Mr Bercow's opposition would carry less weight.

Both Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton addressed peers and MPs in the Royal Gallery during visits to the UK.

Former MP Lord Cormack told the website: "He is the president of the United States, our most important ally.

"My own personal views on him are completely irrelevant - we should give him the opportunity to speak to both Houses."

He added: "He should be received with proper good manners, and as far as a speech is concerned ... he would speak where most other presidents have spoken - in the Royal Gallery."

Mr Trump will make a working visit to the UK on July 13 and details of his trip have yet to be confirmed.

The US ambassador to Britain, Woody Johnson, said Mr Trump "really wants" to meet the Queen, adding the president would "definitely" be coming to London, despite the warnings of likely demonstrations.

Former trade minister Lord Jones of Birmingham said it would be an "excellent idea" for Mr Trump to speak in Parliament.

"Trump is the democratically elected leader of our largest trading partner, our biggest inward investor and the guarantor, when all's said and done, of our security," he said.

"The bosses of China and Saudi Arabia are happily invited."

In February 2017 Mr Bercow said he was "strongly opposed" to Mr Trump addressing both Houses of Parliament in Westminster Hall, as Barack Obama had done.

But Lord Speaker Lord Fowler was not consulted and told peers at the time he would "keep an open mind and consider any request for Mr Trump to address Parliament, if and when it is made".

Tory former Cabinet minister Lord Tebbit told MailOnline there would be support from "a lot of peers" if Lord Fowler offered to host a speech by the US president.

"John Bercow took a unilateral decision," Lord Tebbit said. "I am not sure he has the power to."

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