Starmer faces left-wing revolt over Trump state visit: More than a dozen MPs sign motion demanding ban on US president addressing Parliament
Keir Starmer is facing a backbench revolt over Donald Trump 's planned state visit to the UK later this year.
More than a dozen Labour MPs have backed a motion saying the UK president should be barred from addressing parliament when he visits Britain.
They argue that it would be 'inappropriate' for him to speak to politicians because of his record of 'misogynism, racism and xenophobia', as well as his comments about Britain and stance on Ukraine.
It comes amid widespread anger at Trump's latest attack on Volodymyr Zelensky after he rejected the terms of a Ukraine peace deal that gave major concessions to Putin.
He has also slapped damaging tariffs on UK exports to the United States, including high-end cars, with ministers currently trying to do a trade deal to remove them.
The US president is due in the UK in the autumn for an unprecedented second state visit that will see him meet King Charles, after he met Elizabeth II during his first term in the White House.
Some 16 MPs have signed the early day motion (EDM) tabled by Jarrow MP Kate Osborne, include former Labour frontbenchers Diane Abbott and Clive Lewis.
Several independent MPs who were formerly in the party including ex-shadow chancellor John McDonnell have also backed it.
Mr Trump revealed over the weekend that his 'friend' King Charles is looking at setting a date in September for his the visit.
However, an effort has emerged to stop him being granted the honour of speaking at Parliament. Barack Obama did so in 2011, although Joe Biden did not more recently.
Mr Trump was previously controversially barred from making a speech at Westminster by former Speaker John Bercow. Mr Bercow said in 2017 that it was 'an earned honour', not an 'automatic right'.
The Commons Speaker, the Lord Speaker and the Lord Great Chamberlain - represented by Black Rod - are the three 'gatekeepers' who have to agree to such an address.
Earlier this week Labour's Rachael Maskell, who has not signed the EDM, told MailOnline: 'It would be completely inappropriate for the US President to address the Houses of Parliament.'
Another Early Day motion in 2019, the year Mr Trump made his first state visit, was signed by Mr Lammy, Mr Streeting and now Leader of the House Lucy Powell among others.
But ministers have defended the idea this time, as they seek a trade deal for the UK.
Yesterday education minister Stephen Morgan said he did not support the calls from some MPs and peers for a ban, insisting the UK needs 'strong and effective' relations with the US.
He told Times Radio: 'I look forward to the US president addressing Parliament in due course.'
In the latest round of barbs between the two men, Trump accused his Ukrainian counterpart of making it 'difficult to settle' the war with Russia over his opposition to recognising Moscow's annexation of Crimea.
The US administration is urging Kyiv to accept Russia's continued control of occupied Ukrainian regions and Moscow's ownership of the Crimean peninsula as part of a peace settlement.
Russian President Vladimir Putin's forces would also be required to withdraw from some territory, as would Ukraine's military.
Mr Trump wrote on Truth Social: 'Nobody is asking Zelensky to recognise Crimea as Russian Territory but, if he wants Crimea, why didn't they fight for it eleven years ago when it was handed over to Russia without a shot being fired?
'It's inflammatory statements like Zelensky's that makes it so difficult to settle this War. He has nothing to boast about! The situation for Ukraine is dire — He can have Peace or, he can fight for another three years before losing the whole Country.'
Later, Mr Trump told reporters in the Oval Office that he has 'a deal with Russia' and has 'got to do a deal with Zelensky'.
He added: 'I thought it might be easier to deal with Zelensky, so far it's been harder.'
Questions about a possible US trade deal continue to overshadow Rachel Reeves's mission to Washington as she prepares for talks with her US counterpart.
The Chancellor has travelled to the US capital for the International Monetary Fund (IMF)'s spring meetings with finance ministers from the G7 and G20 this week.
But it is a meeting with US Treasury secretary Scott Bessent scheduled for Friday that has dominated her visit as the Government pursues a deal that would alleviate the impact of Donald Trump's tariffs.
The US president imposed a 10 per cent levy on British goods earlier this month, along with a 25 per cent charge on steel, aluminium and cars.
Ms Reeves insisted on Wednesday that there was 'a deal to be done' and the US administration were 'keen', despite suggestions from senior American officials that the 10 per cent tariff was a 'baseline' Mr Trump was unlikely to go below.
But the Chancellor has also appeared to rule out at least some changes to non-tariff barriers that the US is thought to be seeking.
One sticking point is likely to be agricultural imports, with some US exports not meeting UK food standards.
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