it s tuesday 7 february. welcome to bbc newsroom live. the commons speaker, john bercow, is facing mounting criticism for suggesting he ll prevent president trump addressing parliament during his state visit later this year. mr bercow who s one of three parliamentary officials who can approve such an event said opposition to sexism and racism, and support for equality, were hugely important. but critics say he should have stuck to the tradition of neutrality with one senior conservative describing his intervention as utterly outrageous . here s our political correspondent, eleanor garnier. it s an honour that s bestowed on popes and presidents. a speech to both houses of parliament in the splendour of westminster hall was part of the itinerary when these dignitaries visited britain. but the same invite may not be coming mr trump s way. in an astonishing intervention, the commons speaker said recent decisions by the president made him uneasy about issuing an invitation.
continents share the same heritage, values and above all, the same purpose, to promote peace and prosperity through freedom, democracy and the rule of law. and what a night ahead for sutton united as they host a mighty fa cup match tonight against arsenal at their south london stadium. good afternoon and welcome to bbc news. the legislation designed to allow the government to start the process of brexit takes to the lords this afternoon. it s already been overwhelmingly backed by mps and in just under a few minutes, they ll seek to amend the wording on issues such as the single market. many have already indicated that they ll seek to amend the wording on issues such as the single market or allowing eu nationals to stay. but theresa may said this morning she didn t want to see anyone holding up what the british people want. let s go live to westminster and speak to lelia nathoo our correspondent at the houses of parliament. talk us through the next few hours? what we are expec
jon sopel is in washington. according to the polls, a majority of british people are in favour of donald trump coming to the uk on a state visit. but there s a sizeable number of people who stand opposed. almost two million people signed a petition calling for the invitation to be withdrawn. that petition in line with the law forced a parliamentary debate currently under way in westminster hall. here s a flavour. we are in a position unlike any faced by any previous parliament, where we have a person of a unique personality running the united states. there are great dangers in attempting to give him the best accolade we can offer anyone, only been offered twice before, of a state visit. this would be terribly wrong, because it would appear that the british parliament, the british nation, the british sovereign is approving of the acts of donald] trump. outside that debate in westminster, in parliament square, there s a demonstration under way tonight. let s get more now
good morning from westminster. the bill giving theresa may the power to trigger the formal process of leaving the eu has cleared its final hurdle in parliament, and will now become law. the brexit secretary, david davis, said the uk was on the threshold of its most important negotiation for a generation. our political correspondent chris mason reports. contents, 118, not contents, 274, so the not contents have it. with those words the government achieved what the supreme court told ministers they had to, parliamentary approval to start brexit. the debates here in the house of lords and in the house of commons are, for now at least, done. one thing came out very clearly in all the debates. it is uncertainty that is bad for business, it is uncertainty that is bad forforeign nationals in the uk, it is bad for uk nationals resident in eu countries. i think the quicker we get on with this process the better. the house of commons had overturned two suggested changes to the plan s n