Jeremy Corbyn: Donald Trump's state visit to the UK should be scrapped

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox

Get our free View from Westminster email

Please enter a valid email address

Please enter a valid email address

SIGN UP

I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy

Jeremy Corbyn has said Donald Trump's controversial visit to the UK should be scrapped.

The Labour leader – who has previously backed a ban on the President speaking to Parliament – went further by calling for the summer visit to be abandoned altogether.

Mr Corbyn said: "My position is that Donald Trump should not be coming to the UK.

“Donald Trump has been promoting something that undermines international law, he has been promoting misogyny, he has been making some awful statements in the USA and threatening to build a wall with Mexico.

“And our Government seems to think that this is a man they should be doing deals with.

“We should be challenging Trump on international law issues and we should also not be rolling the red carpet out.”

Speaking on BBC breakfast, Mr Corbyn was also repeatedly challenged on whether he would meet Mr Trump, having previously invited him to a local mosque – so he could “understand multicultural issues”.

He replied: “We have to have relations with the USA, but I’m not sure he is going to want to have a meeting with us.”

The Labour leader then added: “I think it would be right to meet the President of the USA, but I think it would be wrong for him to come here.”

The comments came as a Metropolitan Police Commissioner appeared to confirm a rumour that the State Visit will take place in June.

Speaking to LBC’s Nick Ferrari, Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe was asked how much it is going to cost to police the huge protests expected, replying: “I think President Trump is coming around June, that's the plan.

“At the moment, people are concerned there will be lots of protests. There have been protests already. We've had about 20,000 people about 10 days ago at Whitehall - all very peaceful.

"No doubt we'll put a lot of officers out there and keep them safe and make sure everything goes well. If there is a few thousand officers, it's likely to be quite a bit of money."

A spokesman for 10 Downing Street told LBC: “No date has been set yet for the State Visit."

However, it is thought that a visit in the first week of June would avoid inflaming the row over whether Mr Trump should speak in Parliament, which will – conveniently – be in recess at that time.

During his interview, Mr Corbyn insisted last night’s resignation of Clive Lewis, the Shadow Business Secretary, who refused to vote for Article 50 was “not a disaster”.

He said the majority of Labour MPs had voted in favour of starting Brexit and that a small number had rebelled because of strong pro-Remain feeling in their constituencies.

Mr Corbyn denied the Government had been handed a “blank cheque”, saying: “We support the result of the referendum and have to carry it out.

“It doesn’t mean we agree with the Government on the economy of the future and it does mean we have to build closer relations with everybody across Europe.”

The Labour leader also accused the BBC of reporting “fake news” after a presenter asked him about claims that he may be preparing to step down.

It was “absolute nonsense” to say he has discussed a handover date with aides in a bid to ensure one of his allies takes over when he resigns.

Mr Corbyn said: “We are demanding social justice in Britain. That’s what the Labour party exists for, that’s what I’m leading the party for – and that’s what I’m going to continue doing.”