Commons Speaker John Bercow has insisted he is “strongly opposed” to an address by President Donald Trump in Westminster Hall.
He said to give one was not an automatic right but an “earned honour”, pointing to parliament’s “opposition to racism and sexism”.
Mr Bercow was responding to Labour MP Stephen Doughty who raised the matter in the chamber.
To cheers and applause the speaker said: “An address by a foreign leader to both houses of parliament is not an automatic right, it is an earned honour.
“Moreover, there are many precedents for state visits to take place to our country which do not include an address to both house of parliament.”
He added: “Before the imposition of the migrant ban, I would myself have been strongly opposed to an address by President Trump in Westminster Hall.
“After the imposition of the migrant ban by President Trump I’m even more strongly opposed to an address by President Trump in Westminster Hall.”
He said he had less say over an address in the royal gallery, but added: “I would not wish to issue an invitation.”
“We value our relationship with the US,” he concluded.
“If a state visit takes place that is well above the pay-grade of the speaker.
“However, as far as this place is concerned, I feel very strongly that our opposition to racism and sexism and our support for equality before the law and an independent judiciary are hugely important considerations in the House of Commons.”
Afterwards, veteran Labour MP Dennis Skinner stood and said: “Well done.”
Lib Dem Leader Tim Farron also commended Mr Bercow on speaking out.
He added: “The prime minister might wish to kowtow to the nasty misogynist that now sits in the Oval Office but no-one else does. We do not want him to speak to us. He is not welcome.
“Speaking within Parliament is a rare honour, the highest honour we can offer. In the past we have hosted speeches from leaders on equality, justice and human rights from Mandela to Obama to Aung San Suu Kyi. Trump is not fit to shine their shoes.
“The government’s obsession to get a Brexit trade deal, any deal, means we have ended up in this situation. It has been a grubby little saga from beginning to end.
“Trump should be under no illusion. We are snubbing him.”