House of Commons and the speaker decline to comment on claim made by Reform UK leader at rally in Wales

Donald Trump has been invited to address the UK parliament next year, Nigel Farage has claimed, saying Britain must “roll out the red carpet” for the US president-elect.

The Reform UK leader said Lindsay Hoyle was an improvement on the previous Commons speaker, John Bercow, because he had already invited Trump to parliament next year. Farage told his Reform party’s Welsh rally: “I do think having Sir Lindsay Hoyle there as the speaker compared to that ghastly little pipsqueak Bercow that went before is an improvement.

“And indeed, he’s already invited Donald Trump to come and speak to both Houses of Parliament next year.”

Hoyle’s spokesperson and the Commons both declined to comment on the claim. Trump did not address parliament the first time he was president between 2016 and 2020 after Bercow made clear he was strongly opposed to the prospect.

Trump was invited to the UK for a state visit in 2017, but in an extraordinary intervention Bercow said he was against Trump addressing parliament as part of the visit.

The former speaker told MPs that addressing the Lords and the Commons was “an earned honour”, not an “automatic right”.

  • Flax@feddit.ukEnglish
    0·
    8 days ago

    Unironically he should do it. It’ll be funny to watch. I love a good circus.

  • Baggins@beehaw.orgEnglish
    0·
    8 days ago

    If he can call John Bercow a “ghastly little pipsqueak”, I can call him a frog eyed twat.

    ‘Ghastly little pipsqueak’ is telling though isn’t it? He so really, really wants to be seen as one of the upper class. What with his choice of wardrobe and all. And I bet the septics lap it up, they think it’s real. Like the orange criminal they’ve chosen as president.

    Best get the balloon ready if the King of Cheetos is coming here.

    I managed to swear and wave the middle finger at him last time. Doubt that he saw me though, what with being in Marine One and about a thousand feet over my head.

    It’s the thought that counts though.