Labour MPs table bid to thwart Trump state visit because of ‘misogynism and racism’

Labour MPs have demanded that Theresa May cancel Donald Trump's upcoming state visit to the UK because of his "misogynism, racism and xenophobia".

More than 50 MPs have signed a backbench motion to axe the US president's trip to three-day visit to the UK, which is scheduled for the 3 June, PoliticsHome reported.

Trump's visit coincides with the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings, which will be marked by an event at Portsmouth that the US president will attend.

Last year, Trump's first visit to the UK since his inauguration was met with angry protests in London, where a baby Trump blimp flew over the capital. The US president's visit was watered down because of the public anger, and he spent only one night in London as well as two days in Scotland.

The Labour MPs backing the motion include Rupa Huq, Lloyd Russell-Moyle Emma Dent-Coad. It cites Trump's comments on "women, refugees and torture" as well as his lack of action and decision to pull out of the Paris climate deal as reasons why he should not be allowed to visit the UK.

Their opposition chimes with comments made by the Commons speaker John Bercow, who in 2017 effectively blocked Trump addressing parliament, saying it was "not an automatic right" but an "earned honour".

In recent days he has been urged to call of his ban on Trump addressing parliament. 

Lord Fowler, the Conservative party chairman and lord speaker, said: "Clearly there is a strong case for a speech by the president particularly on such an important anniversary."