‘Biased’ speaker John Bercow’s refusal to invite Donald Trump to Parliament risks ruining ‘special relationship’, ministers warn
The Commons' presiding officer, who is supposed to be impartial, is accused of imperilling Britain’s historic bond with the US
COMMONS Speaker John Bercow has been urged to allow US President Donald Trump to address Parliament to safeguard the historic special relationship with the United States.
Britain and the US are planning for a state visit this June to coincide with the 75th anniversary of D-Day.
But “biased” Bercow is continuing to snub the President by refusing to extend the traditional courtesy of asking visiting American leaders to address both Houses of Parliament.
This has reportedly angered US diplomats and embarrassed the Government which wants to stage a state visit three years after it was first offered by the Prime Minister.
Writing in the , Defence Minister Tobias Ellwood said: "D-Day represents the bedrock of our international relationships.
"As we pay tribute to a generation of brave veterans who sacrificed their lives to defend our values, we can reaffirm our commitment to step forward with our closest of allies and most crucially the US to defend those same values once again under threat.
"The special relationship matters.
"It is greater than any one individual, however controversial.
"So we should leverage the US President's state visit, including the opportunity to formally address Parliament."
The special relationship matters... it is greater than any one individual, however controversial
Defence Minister Tobias Ellwood
In 2017 Bercow sparked controversy by saying Mr Trump should not be allowed to address Parliament on his visit to the UK.
He said at the time that addressing Parliament was "not an automatic right, it is an earned honour".
The Speaker has been slammed for his alleged biased tendency in the supposedly impartial role, especially in regards to Brexit and Trump.
Just seven days after the US president's inauguration in January 2017 the Prime Minister Theresa May flew to Washington to extend the invitation, officially on behalf of the Queen, for a state visit.
But despite his trip to the UK last summer, Trump has not yet made a state visit to Britain.
Only two occupants of the White House have been treated to a grand state visit during the Queen's reign, George W Bush in 2003 and Barack Obama in May 2011 but both were well into their presidencies by the time the offer was made.
MOST READ IN NEWS
Former Navy chief Lord West of Spithead told the Telegraph it would be "an absolute disgrace" if Bercow stopped the President from speaking in Parliament.
He said: "The US and Britain saved Europe from a very dark time in its history and without America we would not have beaten the Nazis.
"Many Americans gave their lives on D-Day and beyond, and it would be disgraceful not to allow President Trump to speak.
"He is the elected US president, he is representing the US in that context, they are a key part of Nato and our most important ally."
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at [email protected] or call 0207 782 4368. You can WhatsApp us on 07810 791 502. We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours.