A top-ranking British lawmaker vowed on Monday to block President Donald Trump from speaking before the U.K. Parliament in the historic Westminster Hall, citing that body’s opposition to racism and sexism and its support for equality and an independent judiciary. In a blistering statement before the House of Commons, Speaker John Bercow said he was “strongly opposed” to Trump addressing Parliament during an upcoming state visit to the U.K.“I would not wish to issue an invitation to President Trump to speak,” Bercow said. “An address by a foreign leader to both houses of Parliament is not an automatic right. The speech was met with applause from other members of Parliament. Prime Minister Theresa May invited Trump to visit her country during a trip to the White House last week.

Source: Huffington Post February 06, 2017 20:03 UTC