The British government pulled the plug Friday on a planned address by President Trump to the joint Houses of Parliament during a state visit – a decision that followed a kerfuffle between two house speakers.
Commons Speaker John Bercow this week said Trump should not be allowed to address Parliament because of his immigration ban as well as the UK’s “opposition to racism and to sexism.”
Some Parliament members applauded his remarks, while others called on him to step down.
He also was assailed by his House of Lords counterpart, whose feathers were ruffled when Bercow failed to consult him before calling for the boycott Monday, the Express reported.
Both men have veto power over proposals for visiting leaders to address Parliament.
“[John Bercow] contacted me this morning, he told me that while he maintained his view on the issue, he was genuinely sorry for failing to contact me,” Lord Fowler said Tuesday after calling for Bercow to be stripped of his veto power.
Trump’s controversial visit is expected to take place in late summer or early autumn — with officials trying to avoid a formal snub by making sure he is not in London when Parliament is sitting, The Guardian reported.
Westminster sources told the paper that a weekend visit at the very end of August or in September is being discussed among the government, Buckingham Palace and the White House.
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http://nypost.com/2017/02/10/british-government-cancels-plan-for-trump-to-speak-to-parliament/The Berk got his way? Odd. He's an odious little man at the best of times (and don't get me started about his wife).
