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Labour would accept an invitation to meet Trump despite calling him an 'asteroid of awfulness', Corbyn ally says

But Emily Thornberry stands by her criticism of the US president, insisting: 'I will say it to his face'

Rob Merrick
Deputy Political Editor
Sunday 17 June 2018 14:59 BST
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Emily Thornberry reveals Labour haven't recieved an invitation to meet Donald Trump

Labour would accept an invitation to meet Donald Trump next month, a key ally of Jeremy Corbyn says – despite calling him an “asteroid of awfulness”.

Emily Thornberry, the shadow foreign secretary, stood by her fierce criticism of the US president, insisting the UK must stand up to a “bully”.

But she said: “The protocol normally is that a visiting leader will ask to see the Opposition if they want to. If we get an invitation to see him, of course we will go and see him.”

Officials from Mr Trump’s team are expected to fly to the UK this week, to thrash out the details of the president’s schedule for his visit on 12 and 13 July.

He is due to attend a Nato summit in Brussels the day before, arrive for dinner in the UK on 12 July and visit Theresa May the following day, either at Downing Street or Chequers, her country retreat.

The US president is then expected to travel to Scotland to play golf with a celebrity. He will also meet the Queen at some point.

Speaking on the BBC’s The Andrew Marr Show, Ms Thornberry repeated her attack on Mr Trump, saying: “I called him an asteroid of awfulness, that’s because that’s what he is.”

She insisted Labour had a lot of “good friends” in America, adding: “I met people in the senate and in Congress who finished my sentences for me.

“We share values with the United States, we do not share values with Donald Trump when he wants to walk away from the Paris climate change agreement, when he wants to tear up the Iran nuclear deal.

“I’m happy to say that openly and I will say it to his face, I have no problem with that.”

Ms Thornberry added: “In my view when you have a bully like that you stand up to them and you’re clear about what it is you disagree with.”

It was reported on Sunday that the government has dropped plans to show Mr Trump HMS Queen Elizabeth, the Royal Navy’s new aircraft carrier, because it has no aircraft yet.

Officials feared the visit would provoke ridicule from the US President, who spent the recent G7 summit attacking European leaders for their lack of defence spending, The Sunday Times claimed.

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