President Donald Trump will not be permitted to address the United Kingdom's members of parliament during his upcoming state visit, according to a report in The Independent.
John Bercow, the Speaker of the House of Commons, revealed his decision on Monday. Watch a video of his speech above. He justified the block by pointing to the House of Commons's stance against "racism and to sexism and our support for equality before the law and an independent judiciary," and how this conflicts with Trump's executive order banning citizens, refugees, and visa-holders from seven Muslim-majority countries.
“Before the imposition of the migrant ban I would myself have been strongly opposed to an address by President Trump in Westminster Hall," he told members of Parliament on Monday. “After the imposition of the migrant ban by President Trump I am even more strongly opposed to an address by President Trump in Westminster Hall."
"Parts of the Commons erupted into rare spontaneous applause in support of Mr Bercow's statement," The Independent wrote.
U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May has reportedly rejected calls to cancel President Trump's visit after he signed the executive order widely labelled as a "Muslim ban." A Downing Street source told BBC News: "America is a huge important ally. We have to think long term."
Thumbnail photo by WPA Pool / Getty Images. A bus passes the Houses of Parliament in London, England, March 27, 2012.