Jeremy Corbyn snubs invitation to state banquet with 'racist' President Trump
2 min read
Jeremy Corbyn has turned down an invitation to attend a state banquet set to be held for President Trump when he visits the UK.
The Labour leader said he would not be attending the event because of the President's "racist and misogynistic rhetoric".
Buckingham Palace will be hosting the offical dinner for President Trump which will be attended by the Queen and the Prime Minister, as part of the honourary state visit.
The US President is set to make his second trip to the UK from June 3-5 to coincide with the 70th anniversary of D-Day.
But Mr Corbyn slammed the decision to put on the lavish affair for Mr Trump, saying the "pomp and ceremony" was not required to maintain good relations with the US.
In a statement, Mr Corbyn said: "Theresa May should not be rolling out the red carpet for a state visit to honour a President who rips up vital international treaties, backs climate change denial and uses racist and misogynistic rhetoric."
"Maintaining an important relationship with the United States does not require the pomp and ceremony of a State Visit. It is disappointing that the Prime Minister has again opted to kowtow to this US administration.
Instead, the Labour leader called for a meeting with the controversial commander-in-chief to discuss "matters of interest".
But the decision was criticised by one Labour MP who told PoliticsHome: “So terrorists like Hamas and the IRA are fine, but the President of the USA - regardless of the fact he is an unpleasant individual - is beyond the pale.”
Earlier this week, Liberal Democrat leader Vince Cable confirmed he would not be attending the formal event, saying British politicians should not be "hobnobbing with a man who is on record as a misogynist and a racist".
Mr Cable said he had intended "no disrespect" to the Queen by turning down the event as he branded the state visit a "shameful stain" on the government.
Commons Speaker John Bercow also broke from the tradition which saw senior political figures attending state dinners, as he confirmed he had also turned down the invitiation.
"Mr Speaker has been invited to the banquet, but he will not be attending," a spokesperson for Mr Bercow said.
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