Transcripts For CSPAN Speaker Bercow On Trump State Visit 20170206

Monday, february 20. Heres part of what speaker bercow said today before the ouse of commons. Have you noticed the deep concern expressed by members across the house, among those signed and those who dont sign but made their views known publicly, regarding the potential offering of the honor of a speech to both houses of parliament in Westminster Hall elsewhere in the palace of westminster and i wonder what approaches have been made to you and what conversations or authorities have been what conversations have taken place with key authorities about such going ahead and whether or not there are ways those of us who have depp deep concerns about President Trumps comments could make those known . Thank you to the honorable gentleman for his point of order. What i will say is this. An address by a foreign leader to both houses of parliament is not an automatic right, it is an arned honor. Moreover, there are many precedents for state visits to take place to our country which do not include an address to both houses of parliament. Thats the first point. The second point is, in relation to Westminster Hall, there are three key holders to Westminster Hall, the speaker of the house of common the speaker of the house of lords, and the lord great chamberlain. Ordinarily, we are able to work by consensus and the hall would be used for a purpose such as an address or another purpose by agreement of the three key holders. I must say to the honorable gentleman, to all who signed his early day motion and to others with strong views about this matter on either side of the argument, that before the imposition of the migrant ban, i would myself have been strongly opposed to an address by President Trump in Westminster Hall. After the imposition of the migrant ban by President Trump, i am even more strongly opposed to an address by President Trump in Westminster Hall. So far as the royal gallery is concerned, again, i operate on advice, i do not, perhaps, have as strong a say in that matter, it is in a different part of the building, although customarily an invitation to a visiting leader to deliver an address there would be issued in the names of the two speakers. I would not wish to issue an invitation for President Trump to speak in the royal gallery. And i conclude by saying to the honorable gentleman this, we value our relationship with the United States. If a state visit takes place, that is way beyond and above the pay grade of the speaker. However, as far as this place is concerned, i feel very strongly that our opposition to racism and to sexism and our support for equality before the law and an independent judiciary are hugely important considerations in the house of commons. [applause] point of order, mr. Skinner. Further to that point of order, two words. Well done. Back in the u. S. , Mcdill Air Force base in tampa, florida, President Trump made his first visit to a u. S. Military command, visiting the heads of Central Command and the special Operations Command and speaking and having lunch with soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines, heres part of his comments earlier today. Ladies and gentlemen, introduce the president of the United States, commander, United States Central Command, general joseph vot