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Theresa May under pressure to condemn Trump's US travel ban Theresa May faces calls to cancel Trump visit over US travel ban
(about 1 hour later)
Theresa May took time to condemn Donald Trump’s ban on refugees and other travellers from seven Muslim-majority countries entering the US because she wanted to “see the evidence” being responding, one of her ministers has said. Jeremy Corbyn has called for Theresa May to cancel Donald Trump’s state visit if the president does not overturn the ban on people from seven Muslim majority countries entering the US.
The comments from David Gauke, chief secretary to the Treasury, came as Nadhim Zahawi, an Iraq-born Conservative MP affected by the US president’s policy, called it “demeaning” and “sad”. The Labour leader said it would not be right for Trump to be hosted by the Queen this summer with the immigration order still in place. Tim Farron, the Liberal Democrat leader, issued a statement making the same demand.
The prime minister was on Sunday facing continued pressure to make a stronger criticism of the ban, which has brought global condemnation and prompted travel and legal chaos within the US. Theresa May was under pressure on Sunday to make a stronger condemnation of Trump’s ban, which has brought global condemnation and prompted travel and legal chaos within the US.
During a trip to Turkey on Saturday, May declined three times to say she condemned Trump’s executive order. Amid growing criticism, including from some from her MPs, a spokesman for the PM released a statement shortly after midnight saying she disagreed with the policy. Speaking on ITV’s Peston on Sunday, Corbyn said the UK should make it “very clear we are extremely upset and it would be totally wrong for him to be coming here with that situation still in place”.
Gauke, speaking on BBC1’s Andrew Marr Show, called the ban “divisive” and said it was “a particular concern” that UK nationals such as Zahawi could be caught up in it. “I think there are real risks with it being counterproductive, and we don’t have that policy – we wouldn’t contemplate going down the route of a ban in this way, and we have a very different approach to to,” Gauke said. “We disagree with the position that President Trump has set out.” “I am not happy with him coming here until that ban is lift. Look at what’s happening with those countries. How many more is it going to be and what is going to be the long-term effect on the rest of the world?” Corbyn said.
Asked why it took May so long to respond, he said: “The prime minister is not a shoot-from-the-hip type of politician. She wants to see the evidence. She wants to understand precisely what the implications are.” The Labour leader said he suspected the visit would be kicked into the long grass but it should certainly be postponed while the controversy over the ban was ongoing.
Speaking on the same programme, Zahawi, who was born in Baghdad and came to the UK as a child, said he and his wife were worried they would not be able to travel to see their twin sons, who are studying at Princeton university, despite holding 10-year US visas. “I think we need to find out what his intentions are in the long run and how far the US parliamentary system is going to protect fundamentals of rights and freedoms and laws, and is it really right to endorse someone who has used this awful misogynist language, awful attacks on Muslims and this absurd idea of building a wall between themselves and their nearest neighbour,” Corbyn said.
Farron’s statement said: “Any visit by President Trump to Britain should be on hold until his disgraceful ban comes to an end. Otherwise Theresa May would be placing the Queen in an impossible position of welcoming a man who is banning British citizens purely on grounds of their faith.”
The former Lib Dem leader Paddy Ashdown had earlier suggested the visit should not go ahead, saying he found it “impossible to bear that in pursuit of deeply wrong-headed policies Theresa May is forcing that man on our Queen”.
The proposed visit has been defended by the Tory MP Suella Fernandes, who said it would be “diplomatically very difficult and very embarrassing if Britain were to disinvite Donald Trump”.
However, two other Conservative MPs, Anna Soubry and Sarah Wollaston, said Trump should not address both houses of parliament, with the former arguing this honour was reserved for “leaders with a record of uniting people and working for peace and tolerance”.
May has faced separate criticism for her slowness in condemning Trump’s 90-day ban on travel to the US for those from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria or Yemen.
During a trip to Turkey on Saturday, May declined three times to say she condemned Trump’s executive order. Amid growing criticism, including from some of her MPs, a spokesman for the PM released a statement shortly after midnight saying she disagreed with the policy.
With Nadhim Zahawi, an Iraq-born Conservative MP affected by the US president’s policy, calling it demeaning and sad, one of May’s ministers said May had delayed because she wanted to “see the evidence” before responding.
David Gauke, chief secretary to the Treasury, told BBC1’s The Andrew Marr Show that the ban was “divisive” and it was “a particular concern” that UK nationals such as Zahawi could be caught up in it.
“I think there are real risks with it being counterproductive, and we don’t have that policy – we wouldn’t contemplate going down the route of a ban in this way, and we have a very different approach to it,” Gauke said. “We disagree with the position that President Trump has set out.”
Asked why it had taken May so long to respond, he said: “The prime minister is not a shoot-from-the-hip type of politician. She wants to see the evidence. She wants to understand precisely what the implications are.”
Speaking on the same programme, Zahawi, who was born in Baghdad and came to the UK as a child, said he and his wife were worried they would not be able to travel to see their twin sons, who are studying at Princeton University, despite holding 10-year US visas.
“For the first time in my life, last night, I felt discriminated against,” Zahawi said. “It’s demeaning. It’s sad.”“For the first time in my life, last night, I felt discriminated against,” Zahawi said. “It’s demeaning. It’s sad.”
However, the Stratford-on-Avon MP said he was “reassured” by May’s statement. “She quite clearly says she disagrees with this,” Zahawi said. She quite clearly says she will make representations on behalf of every citizen.” However, the Stratford-on-Avon MP said he was reassured by May’s statement. “She quite clearly says she disagrees with this,” Zahawi said. “She quite clearly says she will make representations on behalf of every citizen.”
May was “rightly was being cautious” in taking time to respond, he insisted. “I think her being careful is a good thing. But she was also very candid with President Trump.”May was “rightly was being cautious” in taking time to respond, he insisted. “I think her being careful is a good thing. But she was also very candid with President Trump.”
But also speaking on the Marr show the former acting Labour leader, Harriet Harman, said she was “very dismayed” when she saw pictures of May holding Trump’s hand during her Friday visit to the White House. “And then I was horrified when he announced this ban and three times she said it was nothing to do with me,” Harman said. “Well it is to do with us. She obviously needs to be careful as prime minister, but she needs to be strong as well. I was really disappointed and hope she has learned some lessons.” But the former acting Labour leader Harriet Harman, also speaking on the Marr show, said she was “very dismayed” when she saw pictures of May holding Trump’s hand during her Friday visit to the White House. “And then I was horrified when he announced this ban and three times she said it was nothing to do with me,” Harman said. “Well, it is to do with us. She obviously needs to be careful as prime minister, but she needs to be strong as well. I was really disappointed and hope she has learned some lessons.”
Earlier, Sarah Wollaston, Conservative MP for Totnes, called the US president a “sickening piece of work” in a series of tweets and said he should not be given the traditional state visit courtesy of addressing both houses of parliament in Westminster Hall.
“Westminster Hall has great significance & should be reserved for leaders who have made an outstanding positive difference in the world,” she tweeted. “That doesn’t include Mr Trump.”
May’s eventual statement had said the UK would “make representations” if British citizens were affected by the 90-day ban on travel to the US for those from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria or Yemen.
“Immigration policy in the United States is a matter for the government of the United States, just the same as immigration policy for this country should be set by our government,” the spokesman said.
“But we do not agree with this kind of approach and it is not one we will be taking.We are studying this new executive order to see what it means and what the legal effects are, and in particular what the consequences are for UK nationals. If there is any impact on UK nationals then clearly we will make representations to the US government about that.”
Heidi Allen, another Tory MP, tagged May in a tweet which said: “Strong leadership means not being afraid to tell someone powerful when they’re wrong. It’s an ethos this country is proud of.”
Another high-profile Briton possible affected is Sir Mo Farah, who came to the UK as a child from Somalia. He trains in Oregon, and it is not clear whether he will be allowed to re-enter the US. Farah is believed to be in Ethiopia for two weeks.
With government ministers initially silent, Ruth Davidson, the Scottish Conservative leader, was one of the most senior Tories to condemn the ban, saying it was “both wrong in itself and very worrying for the future”.
The Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, said May should have condemned Trump’s actions. “President Trump’s executive order against refugees and Muslims should shock and appal us all,” he said.
“Theresa May should have stood up for Britain and our values by condemning his actions. It should sadden our country that she chose not to.
“After Trump’s hideous actions and May’s weak failure to condemn them, it’s more important than ever for us to say to refugees seeking a place of safety, that they will always be welcome in Britain.”
The Liberal Democrat leader, Tim Farron, said the British government urgently needed to give travel advice to British citizens who might be affected by the ban.
He said: “Even allowing for her cosying up to Donald Trump, it would be a gross abdication of her responsibilities to all British citizens if she doesn’t take this up with her new best friend now, making clear that anyone with a British passport and a visa should be allowed safe passage.”
Trump has also banned refugees from entering the country for 120 days and those seeking asylum from Syria have been banned indefinitely.Trump has also banned refugees from entering the country for 120 days and those seeking asylum from Syria have been banned indefinitely.
Another high-profile Briton who may be affected is Sir Mo Farah, who came to the UK as a child from Somalia. He trains in Oregon, and it is not clear whether he will be allowed to re-enter the US.
May’s eventual statement said the UK would “make representations” if British citizens were affected by the US ban.
“Immigration policy in the United States is a matter for the government of the United States, just the same as immigration policy for this country should be set by our government,” the spokesman said.
“But we do not agree with this kind of approach and it is not one we will be taking. We are studying this new executive order to see what it means and what the legal effects are, and in particular what the consequences are for UK nationals. If there is any impact on UK nationals then clearly we will make representations to the US government about that.”