There are so many reasons why UK shouldn't welcome Trump
This is a man whose return to the White House has led to some of the most harmful policies created by any US president in recent history.
Instability caused by on-again, off-again economic policy, the human rights and due process violations of detentions and deportations, and the elimination of support for foreign aid and environmental protections will have consequences that the world will have to live with for decades to come.
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Trump has cut healthcare for the poorest people in the US, including a substantial number of his own Republican voters. He has rolled back women's reproductive rights, resulting in prolonged suffering and even deaths due to lack of legal healthcare, such as abortions and contraception in some states.
He has ensured that his own supporters suffer while cutting taxes for the very richest.
If it wasn't already clear how morally bankrupt millionaire politicians such as Farage are, his support of Trump should make it clear.
The public are already planning mass protests in London for the president's visit. The people of Scotland, I'm sure, will do the same when he arrives here, just as we did before.
Trump's last state visit was rightfully met with protest from thousands of people gathering on the streets across our country.
His last state visit to Scotland was pre-criminal convictions, and this time the mounting evidence shows exactly why we must take to the streets again and oppose him. Last year, Trump was found guilty of 34 charges relating to false accounting in his business.
This was after he paid a porn star $130,000 in hush money to try to cover up an affair.
Not to mention the dozens of sexual assault allegations against him dating all the way back to the 1970s.
Trump's clear disdain for women, his racism, and his climate denial are glaringly obvious for all of the world to see, and these values should have no place in our society.
Anti-Trump campaigners regularly demonstrate outside of his golf courses, and who could forget the late, great Janey Godley standing with her placard to show Trump just how we all really feel about him? Scotland made it clear before that Trump is no friend of ours, and he never will be.
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Our history of welcoming refugees and valuing the rule of law is at odds with his entire political views and personality, and long may that continue.
But we can only make sure we stand on the right side of history, by continuing to reject Trump and the types of politics he represents.
The UK Government is already on a slippery slope towards alignment with Trump's values, rolling back financial support for disabled people and blaming immigrants for problems they did not cause.
Labour are consistently choosing to target the wrong 1%, allowing the ultra-wealthy to carry on causing harm to our climate, paying less than their fair share of tax, and pushing a very similar narrative to Trump's to stay rich at all costs.
We know that this is not how the general public feel, and this is not what they expect of our democracy.
That is why the Scottish Greens will continue to demand that we tax the rich properly, so that we can build a better, fairer society for everyone.
We can be a nation that lifts people out of poverty, supports people when they need it, and invests in our climate for future generations, always, without question.
Greens are the antidote to the spread of Trumpian politics, and it is about time that other political parties start choosing people and planet over welcoming provocateurs with open arms and raking in profits.
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Daily Mirror
9 minutes ago
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BBC News
9 minutes ago
- BBC News
Security tightens as Donald Trump tees off at Turnberry
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Times
37 minutes ago
- Times
Starmer rejects call to recognise Palestine despite cabinet pressure
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A total of 136 Labour MPs — equivalent to a third of Starmer's parliamentary party — have signed a cross-party letter calling for Britain to stand up to its 'historic responsibility' and recognise a Palestinian state. The letter was signed by 221 MPs in total. It said: 'Whilst we appreciate the UK does not have it in its power to bring about a free and independent Palestine, UK recognition would have a significant impact due to our historic connections and our membership on the UN Security Council, so we urge you to take this step. 'British recognition of Palestine would be particularly powerful given its role as the author of the Balfour Declaration and the former Mandatory Power in Palestine. Since 1980 we have backed a two-state solution. 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Itamar Ben-Gvir, national security minister and the most outspoken far-right minister in Netanyahu's cabinet, said: 'Complete halt of 'humanitarian' aid. Total occupation of the Strip. Total destruction of Hamas. Encouragement of migration. Settlement. 'This is not the alternative path — this is the royal road to securing the release of the hostages and achieving victory in the war.' • Israel and US pull out of Gaza ceasefire talks with 'selfish' Hamas Sir Jeremy Greenstock, a former British ambassador to the UN, was one of 50 diplomats who signed a letter calling for Starmer to unilaterally recognise a Palestinian state. He said it would go beyond 'rhetoric' and encourage countries in the Middle East to follow suit.
