The Liberal Democrats have today tabled a Parliamentary motion,
calling on the Prime Minister to advise His Majesty the King that
his upcoming state visit to the United States should be
cancelled, as Donald Trump continues his illegal war in Iran.
The Liberal Democrats have today tabled an Early Day Motion (EDM)
calling on the Prime Minister to advise that His Majesty's
upcoming state visit to the United States is cancelled. This
comes as Donald Trump continues his illegal war against Iran,
which has destabilised the Middle East and triggered a surge in
energy bills and petrol prices for British families.
The party is calling on MPs from across the house to back the
motion and stand up to Donald Trump's "bullying" tactics. Since
launching military action on 28 February, the American President
has repeatedly tried to demean Britain, labelling the UK's
diplomatic approach "terrible."
Former Ambassador to the United States and Chair of the Foreign
Affairs Select Committee, MP, also echoed Liberal
Democrat calls and shared that a visit to America next month
would be inappropriate following the U.S. involvement in the
conflict.
Liberal Democrat Foreign Affairs Spokesperson MP said:
“A state visit is the highest diplomatic honour we can bestow. It
must not be used to reward a President who has launched an
illegal war, brought UK troops, citizens and allies into harm's
way, and driven up energy and petrol prices for British families.
“It would be utterly wrong for His Majesty the King to be placed
in the impossible and embarrassing position of acting as a PR
shield for an administration that insults our troops and allies,
and destabilises the global economy.
“Liberal Democrats are clear that this state visit should not go
ahead. must stop appeasing Trump and
advise the Palace to cancel this visit immediately."
ENDS
Notes to Editors:
The full text of the EDM is below; it will be published on 19th
March 2025.
State visits to the US
That this House notes with grave concern Donald Trump and
Benjamin Netanyahu's unilateral military action against Iran;
expresses its horror at how Iran's reckless response has engulfed
the wider Middle East in this war; believes that multilateralism,
diplomacy, and the use of economic levers are the only legitimate
and sustainable means through which to contain Iran's nuclear
ambitions and help deliver genuine freedom for the Iranian
people; further believes that the UK must not be complicit in
this military action; recognises that this war is already causing
tangible harm to British families through its impact on higher
energy costs; agrees that any decision on the deployment of
British Armed Forces into conflict must be made in the UK's
national interest and subject to a vote in Parliament; calls on
the Prime Minister to stand firm against Trump's bullying, to
avoid Britain being further dragged into this war; and further
calls on the Prime Minister to cancel forthcoming British state
visits to the US, given President Trump's ongoing war and
disparaging remarks about the UK and other allies who were not
consulted on the decision to go to war.
MP's comments on the state
visit can be found here.
Trump's comments on the UK's approach to the conflict can be
found here.
