Politics

Jeremy Corbyn refuses invitation to attend Donald Trump state banquet



Jeremy Corbyn has snubbed Donald Trump by turning down his invitation to a state banquet during the US president’s visit.

The Labour leader joins Lib Dem chief Vince Cable and Commons Speaker Jon Bercow in declining to attend the event. 

He said: “Theresa May should not be rolling out the red carpet for a state visit to honour a President who rips up vital international treaties, backs climate change denial and uses racist and misogynist rhetoric.

“Maintaining an important relationship with the United States does not require the pomp and ceremony of a State Visit. It is disappointing that the Prime Minister has again opted to kowtow to this US administration.

“I would welcome a meeting with President Trump to discuss all matters of interest.”

It was confirmed earlier this month that President Trump would have a state visit at the start of June. 

Buckingham Palace confirmed on Wednesday he and First Lady Melania will arrive on June 3 as guests of the Queen and will meet the Prime Minister for bilateral talks. 

Donald Trump will visit the UK in June (Getty Images)

Announcing the visit, Buckingham Palace said: “The President of the United States, President Donald Trump, accompanied by Mrs Melania Trump, has accepted an invitation from Her Majesty The Queen to pay a state visit to the United Kingdom.”

After the visit was announced on Wednesday, Prime Minister Theresa May said the UK and US have a “deep and enduring partnership”.

Theresa May said the visit would be an opportunity for the UK and US to ‘strengthen our close relationship’

She said: “We do more together than any two nations in the world and we are both safer and more prosperous because of our cooperation.

“The state visit is an opportunity to strengthen our close relationship in areas such as trade, investment, security and defence, and to discuss how we can build on these ties in the years ahead.”

A White House spokesman the visit will “reaffirm the steadfast and special relationship between the United States and the United Kingdom”.

President Trump previously visited the UK in 2018

During his visit in June, he will attend an event in Portsmouth to mark the 75th anniversary of D-Day.

After the three-day visit to the UK, Mr Trump and his wife will then travel to Normandy on June 6 where they will meet French president Emmanuel Macron.

However, there has been a backlash to the proposals, with thousands of people vowing to protest in London on the dates. 

There were protests when he previously visited the UK in 2018. 

On a Facebook event, which more thousands have said they are interested in, demonstration organisers said: “In early June, Donald Trump is planning to come to the UK. 

“This time, it will be for a full state visit – with processions down the Mall in a golden carriage. But there won’t be any cheering crowds. 

“Last year, a quarter of a million mobilised to say no to Trump’s politics of hate and division.

“This time, we will take to the streets in even bigger numbers – to fight for migrant and refugee rights, for women’s rights, against the corporate elites and for the future of our planet.

“This demonstration isn’t just about Trump as one man. He is a symbol of the new far right, a politics of Islamophobia and anti-semitism, of war and conflict, and walls and fences that are growing around the world.” 



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