Labour MPs in blistering attacks against ‘disgrace’ Donald Trump as backlash against US president’s state visit to UK grows

Leading Labour MPs David Lammy and Emily Thornberry have launched blistering attacks against US president Donald Trump as the backlash against his state visit to the UK continued to grow on Saturday.

Mr Lammy spoke out against the “horrible white supremacy that he seems to stand for” and questioned why the “misogynist” had been granted the visit when numerous other presidents hadn’t.

And Ms Thornberry, who called Mr Trump a “disgrace to his office”, said he did not deserve the honour.

It comes after Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, Commons speaker John Bercow, Lib Dem leader Vince Cable and SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford all said they will not attend the banquet at Buckingham Palace.

Mr Trump is set to visit the UK on a three-day trip in June.

Since the trip was announced earlier this week, thousands have said they will attend a London protest against the president.

And Tottenham MP David Lammy gave his backing to the campaigners, saying on his LBC radio show: “If you care about climate change, if you care about the future of this world, then you must stand against Donald Trump.

“This is a man that is someone who thinks it’s OK to describe women in the most horrendous of ways. To speak about them in a misogynistic and deeply offensive fashion. This is the Donald Trump that we are rolling out the red carpet for.

“We don’t always give a state visit to American presidents… Lyndon Johnson, [Gerald] Ford, [Jimmy] Carter did not get one. So why, why is Theresa May putting Donald Trump in this position? Having him alongside the Queen?”

And after Mr Trump moved to pull the US out of the international Arms Trade Treaty, shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry said: “Donald Trump’s statement on the Arms Trade Treaty is the final confirmation that he is not the Leader of the Free World, he never has been, and he does not deserve the honour of a State Visit to Britain.

“He is nothing but a disgrace to his office and a threat to our world order.”

The growing backlash came after Mr Corbyn said on Friday: “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.”

However, Mr Corbyn did say he would be open to meeting Mr Trump personally to discuss “all matters of interest”.