Theresa May blasted after refusing to condemn Donald Trump’s ban on Muslims entering US
THERESA May was last night accused of “complicity” over Donald Trump’s controversial Muslims ban after she refused three times to condemn it.
Giving a press conference in Ankara, Mrs May avoided giving any comment on it despite being grilled twice.
Replying only about Britain and Turkey’s efforts to help refugees, Mrs May was heckled by the media: "And the US?"
Looking taken back, the PM eventually said: "The United States is responsible for the United States’ own policy on refugees".
But Mrs May did praise Turkey for taking in three million refugees, and said Britain would also continue its program.
Standing alongside her, Turkey’s Premier Binali Yildirim lashed out at Trump’s policies in stark contrast to the PM’s muted response.
Angry Mr Yildirim said: “If someone is in need, you should help them.
“Allies should take a bit of our burden as well.
“You can build a wall but it’s not a solution. That wall will come down like the Berlin wall.”
The controversy came just 24 hours after Mrs May’s successful meeting with Donald Trump in Washington DC.
Former Labour leader raged against the PM’s silence last night.
Ed Miliband said: “The PM needs to say now the Trump executive order targeting Muslims to block their entry into the US is abhorrent. Silence is complicity”.
Hours later, after arriving back from Ankara, the PM's spokesman clarified May's position, saying: “We do not agree with this kind of approach.”
The new ban was introduced by the Republican president yesterday as part of a move that he described as allowing for “extreme vetting” and to “keep terrorists out”.
Using an executive order, the reality television star is denying people from Iran, Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Sudan, Libya and Somalia entry to the USA for 90 days.
He has also suspended the US Refugee Admissions Program for 120 days.
Visiting the State Department on Friday, he said: “We are establishing new vetting measures, to keep radical Islamic terrorists out of the United States of America.”
He added: “We don’t want ‘em here. We want to ensure we aren’t admitting into our country the very threats that our men and women are fighting overseas.”
Earlier today it was also claimed that an Oscar-nominated film director wouldn’t be allowed to travel to the ceremony in February because of the new ban.
Protesters gathered in New York last night to rally against Trump’s ban which was signed at an event yesterday it the Pentagon’s Hall of Heroes in Arlington, Virginia.