Trump’s Planned State Visit To UK Sparks Parliament Debate

A controversial debate is set in the UK Parliament on Feb. 20 in line with President Donald Trump's planned state visit in the UK where he is expected to have an audience with Queen Elizabeth II. UK Parliament members will hold the debate in the House of Commons amid protest against the newly-elected US President.

However, there was also a petition that gathered over 100,000 signatures supporting for the visit which also prompted UK Parliament to hold a separate debate. Trump recently issued an executive order imposing a 90-day travel ban for citizens from Iran, Iraq, Syria, Sudan, Libya, Yemen, and Somalia. The same order also includes 120-day suspension of the US Refugee Admissions Program.

In an interview with CNN Politics, Prime Minister Theresa May said, "We do not agree with this kind of approach," referring to the directive of Trump. The executive order was signed when the Prime Minister left the White House last January 27.

Buckingham Palace is in the limelight due to this development after May extended the invitation to the US President on behalf of the Queen. Peter Ricketts, former head of the UK Foreign Office, said May put Queen Elizabeth II in a "very difficult position." Labour lawmaker Mike Gapes asked: "Why on earth has Theresa the appeaser got him here within a few months?"

Trump travel ban triggered surges of protests all across the UK that attracted approximately 1.6 million people signing a petition to withdraw the invitation. However, UK Parliament Conservative MP Philip Davies said the invitation focuses on the best interest of the UK and the government is right to stand firm on it.

Mayor Sadiq Khan of London, the first Muslim elected to the position, described the executive order as "cruel, prejudiced and counterproductive." The London Mayor's Office will call for a Travel Ban against President Trump, according to National Post. The February 20 debate that the UK Parliament will hold will be one of the highlights of the UK after EU Brixit.