House of Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle will not block Donald Trump addressing Parliament on his next visit to the UK, GB News can disclose.
Westminster sources said that Hoyle is not going to “do a Bercow” and copy the precedent set by Hoyle’s predecessor and refuse to invite Trump to address both Houses.
Any invitation will have to be extended both by Hoyle and by Lord McFall, the Lords’ Speaker.
A source told GB News: “If he is going to come over, Lindsay is not going to do a Bercow”.
Bercow caused a row in February 2017 – a month after Trump’s first inauguration – when he said he would be “strongly opposed” to Trump addressing the Houses of Parliament during his state visit to the UK.
Bercow told MPs that “opposition to racism and sexism” were “hugely important considerations”.
Earlier Sir Keir Starmer’s spokesman said he would welcome Trump addressing Parliament on his next state visit, which is expected to be in the first half of next year.
Trump, who becomes just the second Commander-in-Chief to serve two non-consecutive terms, will also become the 47th President of the United States in January.
Trump edged out Democrat rival Kamala Harris in Georgia, North Carolina and Pennsylvania – clearing his path for a remarkable return.
However, it was Trump’s inroads in the Rust Belt that proved decisive to getting over the line.
Starmer congratulated the Republican politician on a “historic election victory” after American voters returned him to the White House on Wednesday.
The Prime Minister described the president-elect as a “steadfast” supporter of the UK-US “special relationship”.
When asked whether Starmer would be open to Trump addressing Parliament, Number 10 said matters relating to the House are “for the Speaker”.
However, his spokesman added: “I think questions for the House are for the Speaker, but clearly the Prime Minister would of course welcome a visit from President-elect Trump to the UK in the future.”
