Since British Prime Minister Theresa May’s visit to the U.S. last week, we’ve been reminded endlessly of the many ways the U.S. and U.K. have each other’s backs. But President Donald Trump is testing the so-called “special relationship” in new ways.
After enacting a travel ban on citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries, mass protests erupted across Britain Monday.
Protesters held signs reading “Dump Trump,” “Let Them In,” and “Refugees Welcome Here” outside the Downing Street residence in London where May resides.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TODi1BO4d5k
British representatives from across the political spectrum are united in opposing Trump.
Conservative lawmaker Sayeeda Warsi said:
“…There comes a moment when we have to ask our government, ‘Where do you stand?’ And that’s why I’m here today. Not just because I believe what Trump is doing is appalling, not just because I believe it’s counterproductive, not just because I know that it will not achieve even what he says he’s trying to achieve, but because I want my government to stand up and say, ‘He’s wrong.’”
Some in the U.K. have taken their protests one step further. An online petition launched last week to oppose Trump from making a state visit to the U.K. has surpassed 1.7 million signatures. By law, any petition that surpasses 100,000 signatures will be “considered for a debate” before the British Parliament.
The ban on Trump’s visit is scheduled for a hearing on Feb. 20.
The petition has attracted signatories as diverse as Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn and Scottish Conservative Party leader Ruth Davidson.
Corbyn has long been a vocal Trump critic. In response to Trump’s travel ban, Corbyn said:
“I think it would be totally wrong for him to come here while that situation is going on. I think he has to be challenged on this. … I’m not happy with him coming here until that ban is lifted, quite honestly, because look at what’s happening with those countries. How many more is it going to be? And what’s going to be the long-term effect of this on the rest of the world?”
The petition has put May in a tough situation. If she permits the state visit, Trump will meet not only with May and her government, but also with Queen Elizabeth II. The Queen has no political power but – along with the rest of the royal family – is a revered public figure.
Insisting that the Queen meet Trump could cause widespread offense and cost May political capital.
If, on the other hand, May bows to domestic political pressure, she could embarrass Trump and put the trade deal they’ve been working on at risk.
This isn’t the first time Trump has faced a potential travel ban in the U.K. Back in Jan. 2016, British lawmakers received a similar petition that received over half a million signatures. That petition, too, was debated in Parliament. And while the U.K. ultimately did not ban Trump, the proceedings lasted three tense hours.
Then-Prime Minister David Cameron and his administration offered a scathing critique:
“The Prime Minister has made clear that he completely disagrees with Donald Trump’s remarks. The Home Secretary has said that Donald Trump’s remarks in relation to Muslims are divisive, unhelpful and wrong.”
This attempt to ban Trump is also likely to fail, although it is possible that Parliament could force May to downgrade the visit from a formal state visit to a less formal banquet.
Check out how the original debate unfolded in the video below:
Featured image via YouTube video.
