Trump UK state visit: Don't roll out red carpet, says SNP Westminister leader Ian Blackford

The SNP says the UK shouldn't be rolling out the red carpet for Donald Trump on his state visit. Picture: Paco Anselmi/PA Wire - Credit: PA

Those boycotting a state dinner with Donald Trump when he makes his visit to the UK have defended snubbing the US president, saying: ‘It wouldn’t be the right thing to simply roll out the red carpet and have a nice dinner.’

The American commander-in-chief is due to make his long-awaited state trip to Britain on June 3.

It is likely to prompt protests throughout the UK due to his misogynist comments and anti-immigration policies.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has said he will not attend a state dinner that will be held with The Queen as part of the visit.

And SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford, who has also said that he and his party will boycott the dinner, told Sky News’ Sophy Ridge on Sunday: ‘It is very important to show due respect to the people of America and the office of the president.

‘However when you look at what president Trump has been doing, the way he has been behaving – the misogynist way he has been behaving – it wouldn’t be the right thing to simply roll out the red carpet and have a nice dinner.’

Even though he said it was important for Britain to engage with the United States and its president, he said a dinner was not the right format in which to do so.

‘We simply can’t support what the US president is doing and it wouldn’t be right to be sitting down and having dinner with him,’ Blackford said.

On the same programme, Conservative Party deputy chairman Helen Whatley said: ‘Trump as an individual I have mixed feelings about’ – even though she was pictured smiling whilst attending his inauguration in 2017.

As vice-chairman for women for the party, she said she did not like some of the things he has said about females – but added: ‘We have to recognise the importance of that office.’