Donald Trump COULD give speech in Parliament when he visits Britain despite ban by Commons Speaker
Members of the House of Lords are pushing for the President to give a speech in the Royal Gallery
DONALD Trump COULD make a speech to Parliament when he visits Britain, it was claimed today.
Commons Speaker John Bercow - currently embroiled in multiple bullying claims - has previously banned the President from speaking in prestigious Westminster Hall.
But now a group of peers are lobbying the Lord Speaker, head of the House of Lords, to offer Mr Trump an alternative venue.
The President is visiting the UK in July, after attending a Nato summit in Brussels.
Last year Mr Bercow announced he would veto any invitation to Mr Trump to make a speech in Westminster Hall, the oldest part of Parliament.
He said the President didn't deserve the honour because of his controversial policies on immigration.
But instead of appearing in Westminster Hall, he could give a talk in the Royal Gallery - which Mr Bercow has no power over.
The Royal Gallery, currently used to display paintings, is controlled by Lord Fowler, the Lord Speaker.
Many previous world leaders have given speeches to MPs and peers in the Royal Gallery, inclduing Angela Merkel, Xi Jinping, Bill Clinton and Ronald Reagan.
Tory peer Lord Cormack : "He is the President of the United States, our most important ally.
"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."
Ex-minister Digby Jones added: "I think it would be an excellent idea.
"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."
Mr Bercow outraged many MPs when he issued his ban on Mr Trump being invited to Westminster Hall.
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They claimed he breached his constitutional duty to be politically neutral by speaking out against the President.
The Speaker is currently under fire after he was accused of bullying several members of his staff - claims he strongly denies.
Today the former Black Rod said Mr Bercow was unfit for office because he would leave aides "terrified" by flying into furious rages.
In response to the comments today the Lord Speaker issued a statement saying: “No conversations have taken place between the House of Lords and the UK Government regarding President Trump coming to the Royal Gallery.
“Any request for him to speak in the Royal Gallery would be discussed if and when it were received.
“The United States is a long-standing ally and friend of the United Kingdom.”
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