Visit of Trump

Betty Boothroyd does not think much of Bercow's refusal to attend the dinner.
He should put his personal views on one side and remember that he is representing Parliament and should be non-biased.
His attitude, as Speaker of the House, is totally unprofessional.
Betty Boothroyd says:
No Speaker should indulge himself in personalities and whom he approves or disapproves.
Speakers must always remember they are the servant of the House and not its master.

Corbyn, Cable etc can, of course, please themselves as they represent no-one as they are not members of the government and not of particular consequence.

I think we're divided on here as to whether cosying up to Trump in the hopes of a trade deal (which will be on greatly disadvantageous terms to us) is a good thing or a bad thing.

That we have to make our Head of State entertain such a very unpleasant man just because we are supposedly leaving one of the most sophisticated, powerful and influential ( and principled when it comes to standards) trading blocks in the world is embarrassing. I'm sure he wouldn't have been given a State Visit had we not had the Leave vote.

Exactly Jabberwock there was anti-semitism in the Uk mostly among the establishment and the right wing (including a member of the royal family but we don't talk about that).
I do think there is a difference between meeting with the leader of a government which is instituting change, like the Chinese and meeting a leader who has openly declared his intentions of introducing racist measures, has already done so and who has spoken of women in terms which would seem to give men a basis for believing the assault of women is acceptable. Who is in fact reversing the policies of equality.

Totally agree Lemon and Annie!

Just because Communists were murdered in concentration camps along with Jews doesn't mean that they weren't anti Semitic!! The Russians were deeply anti semitic as were most country's in Europe, particularly the East. Rounding up and the betrayal of Jews was largely due to the hatred of their own countrymen. It wasn't only Nazis who hated Jews, far from it!!!!!

Would Corbyn have refused to meet/ banquet the Chinese Leader I wonder?We all know they are beacons of equality and freedom! Ditto Russia, when Corbyn and friends have been very cosy with them.
Exactly MaizieD ( a foreign policy objective) and not a bad idea to stay very friendly with our US allies when we may want future trade deals.
Trump is a horrible man, but not a killer.

True Jabberwok

So one can only be anti semetic by actions not by words , same must be said of all racists then, say what you want no matter how vile but hands off,

The Speaker is supposed to be non political too!! It just proves how HM is head and shoulders above these self righteous pygmy's in every respect!

Left wingers aren't anti-semitic Annie. They have stood on many occasions with the Jewish community. Communists were in concentration camps and were killed in WW2. The right wing on the other hand colluded with Hitler, imprisoned communists and refused shelter to socialist families.

I doubt if the Queen has any say on this, lemon. She cannot be 'political' and must be advised by her ministers.
State visits usually have a political/ foreign policy objective. The objective for this one is very clear. And it isn't honouring a WW2 ally...

How can an anti Semite be left wing ?

if DT was just as odious but left wing Isn't that the most stupid statement ever? The left wing stands against racism, and misogyny and believes in equality and freedom. How the hell could Trump or anyone with his beliefs be left wing? Isn't this just another attempt to whitewash the right and make their unacceptable prejudices palatable?

State visits are proposed by the government of the day, but the Queen presumably has to agree.

.....and just to be clear, I am certainly not a ‘fan’ of DT and have never said a single thing that’s good about him, either in RL or on GN.

Just a reminder that there was absolutely no need for Trump to be invited for a State Visit; it is not a common occurrence for US presidents to be given one. This is only the third during the reign of our current monarch. That SVs of US presidents are so rare makes me even more annoyed about this visit. It will give DT something to crow about and I'm willing to take money on him claiming to be the 1st US president to be invited on one; given his habitual lying ?

The truth is, as I said much earlier in this thread, that we are having to endure this because May is trying desperately to keep this obnoxious person 'on side' in the hopes of a post Brexit trade deal. Further embarrasing humiliation for the UK I'm afraid.

Once again I'm puzzled that people just can't see this ~

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_state_visits_received_by_Elizabeth_II

That’s a strange way to look at the situation mcem
I imagine those posters are taking a pragmatic view of politics and diplomacy where state visits/banquets are concerned, and are not ‘personalising’ or getting emotional about the subject as so many seem to be doing.
Corbyn will sit down and eat with all sorts of highly dubious characters btw but then (because DT is very right wing) refuses to eat with him.If DT was just as odious but left wing, then Corbyn would have no problem attending.
I suppose we should be thankful that Her Maj and the government of the day (whichever Party) are not made up of self righteous Gners.

Well so far we have GG54 and poppyred willing to share the company of the odious Trump. (Sorry if I missed any other fans).

Anyone else wish to join the illustrious company?

I'd prefer the alternative and share my time with those who have declined the invitation!

He’s still popular over there though with millions of Americans. A lot of whom think he’ll get a second term. Especially as the Democrats aren’t fielding a particularly strong candidate and this time Trump is actively supported by the Republicans. He has a $40 million stash ready to fight the next election as he was very aware Clinton outspent him last time.
?

I doubt you would ever be in a position to host Corbyn or Bercow Poppyred but should I ever have that opportunity I can imagine some lively and erudite conversations.

I have two American Trump fans coming to stay during his visit and luckily I only have to host these for a week. If they weren’t family (DH’s side not mine!) I would not give them the time of day. From past experience they are dull, uninteresting guests without an original thought in their heads.

Jeremy Corbin and Bercow have declined invitation to join DT for dinner during state visit, I wouldn’t want those two around my dinner table either! ??

Well it’s said he talks a lot of hot air, so maybe the name suits!

Hardly a new fashion, since the world has now been laughing at, and hating this utter moron for a number of years.

I can just imagine what will go through the minds of the royal family as this obsequious twerp seeks to impress them....and Tweets about his experiences

When he was elected, I told a despairing friend in New York, that in Yorkshire, the word 'trump' is a euphemism for breaking wind.

Oh well done Vince and Jeremy. Refusing an invite to eat with Trump shows support for the women in US who have demonstrated and marched to show their contempt for this mysoginist,racist man.
I hope others do the same and it would be great if their places were left empty as an indication of how many despise this man

Callistemon Quote [ Grandad1943 what's your opinion on the murderers who think of themselves as the New IRA who killed Lyra McKee? Do you feel so sympathetic to them?] End Quote.

I have not stated that I feel sympathy for anyone who commits indiscriminate acts of violence against any other persons. However, I am I believe a realist in acknowledging that the Brexit border issue and the lack of a stable devolved government in Northern Ireland are making for a fertile recruiting ground once again for the IRA.

Should the above border and governance situation continue to deteriorate, then the return to violence we have already witnessed will steadily grow worse to the detriment of the whole of Britain. It always has been the case in Ireland that when those who perpetrate violence are apprehended, they become an icon to those who feel that the whole of Ireland should be under the one administration of the Dublin government. In that, others come forward to replace those in the IRA that have been apprehended and once again the violence grows.

Tony Blair accepted the above and in that brought forward negotiations with the IRA which led to the Good Friday agreement. Should that agreement break down in the coming months, I feel there will be no further opportunities for peaceful Westminster government in Northern Ireland and eventually (perhaps after many more lives have been lost) the British administration in the North of Ireland will come to an end.

However, i am someone who has always felt that since 1922 Westminster had had a poor case for retaining any rule in Ireland.