Trump's Second Coming

Why The Tangerine Tyrant Must Be Barred From Parliament

The choreography of international diplomacy can sometimes involve the strangest of steps, steps that are ugly and jarring to the audience. But the dance that Starmer’s government is doing right now with Donald Trump has the potential to be one of the ugliest - and most damaging - of all. We, the people, must take a stand and ensure that the home of our democracy is not violated by the tangerine tyrant.

A Second (Unwelcome) Coming

Trump has let slip - political pro that he is - that arrangements are well under way to receive him for an unprecedented second State Visit to the UK in September of this year. As if that news wasn’t dispiriting enough, there are whispers in the media that his visit might include an invitation to address Parliament, a rare honour only very infrequently bestowed on foreign leaders. Parliament, where Churchill once rallied a nation against fascism could see Trump deliver some big, beautiful words on matters of grave import…such as whether it would be better to be electrocuted or eaten by a shark. If we’re lucky. Imagine that.

Of course, we've been here before. In 2019, when he found time in his busy golf schedule to squeeze in a quick diplomatic faux pas involving our late Queen, thousands flooded London's streets in protest. The giant ‘Trump Baby’ blimp floated overhead, a fitting symbol of the infantile narcissism that characterises everything this man does. Now, as then, there is widespread revulsion at the prospect of honouring a man who has shown such contempt for democratic norms.

But this time, the stakes are even higher.

Why Parliament Must Remain Off-Limits

Parliament is not just another photo opportunity on a diplomatic itinerary. It represents the beating heart of British democracy, a symbol of our commitment to rule of law, free speech, and accountable governance. An invitation to address both Houses is among the rarest honours our nation can bestow, reserved for those who embody these values in both word and deed.

Previous recipients have included Nelson Mandela, Barak Obama and most recently, Volodymyr Zelensky.

And there, if you look very closely, is the problem…Donald Trump isn’t really in the same league. His record - as a politician and as a man - fails dismally to compare to any of those.

I mean, this is the man who incited a violent mob to attack the US Capitol in an attempt to overturn a democratic election; pressured election officials to "find" votes that didn't exist; systematically undermined public trust in the democratic process with baseless claims of fraud; continues to attack the judiciary, the free press, and anyone who dares hold him accountable; is actively undermining NATO, the organisation that has guaranteed European security for generations.

Now, weigh all that against lives dedicated to overthrowing the South African apartheid regime, striving to give ordinary Americans access to better healthcare, or leading the fight-back against Vladimir Putin’s murderous invasion of Ukraine. See what I’m getting at?

Beyond Protocol: The Message It Would Send

Some will argue that this is merely a matter of diplomatic protocol, that we must respect the office of the American presidency regardless of its occupant. (I’ll have a fiver on Farage saying some variant of that before the week’s out.) But this argument fundamentally misunderstands the requirements of such respect.

Respecting the US-UK alliance means being honest about threats to the democratic values that underpin it. It means distinguishing between the office and the person, between necessary diplomatic engagement and extraordinary honours.

A State Dinner at Buckingham Palace? Perhaps unavoidable given the government's desire to curry favour with a capricious president whose tariff threats loom over post-Brexit Britain's economic future. But Parliament's podium belongs to Parliament itself, not to the government of the day, and certainly not to foreign leaders who have actively worked to undermine the democratic principles it represents.

If we were to allow Trump to stand on those steps in Westminster Hall, in front of the world’s media, we would be granting him a democratic legitimacy he simply does not deserve. We would be providing ammunition to those who seek to portray democracy as hollow and hypocritical. Frankly, we’d be shooting ourselves in the foot at the very time we can least afford any such mistakes.

The Farage Factor: A Domestic Dimension

And the threat isn't merely abstract or theoretical. Trump's close relationship with Nigel Farage brings this danger directly into our domestic politics. Farage has campaigned alongside Trump…several times. He has actively supported Trump’s quest for power and was reported to be Trump’s preferred candidate for the role of UK ambassador to the US. It’s no secret that the two share an energetic enthusiasm for a brand of divisive populism that thrives on undermining institutional trust.

Allowing Trump to address Parliament would not only legitimise his anti-democratic behaviour abroad but embolden those who seek to replicate it here at home. It would tell Farage and his ilk that attacks on democratic norms carry no consequences, that it’s ok to wage war on democracy and still be welcomed in its most sacred spaces. I’m not up for that…are you?

What Is To Be Done?

While the government may have committed to a State Visit, the decision to grant a parliamentary address rests not with ministers but with the Speakers of both Houses. They remain the guardians of Parliament's integrity and independence in this matter.

As the CEO of Open Britain, I have (twice now) formally written to Speaker Hoyle, outlining why Trump fails to meet the standard expected of those granted this honour. And our petition, "Keep Trump Out of Parliament," has already gathered tens of thousands of signatures, demonstrating the depth of public feeling on this issue.

These efforts must intensify in the coming weeks. The Speaker (and others with a say in any decision to invite Trump to Parliament) must hear from ordinary people who understand that this is not part of the usual rough-and-tumble of partisan politics but about protecting the dignity of our democratic institutions. Those decision-makers must know that, however they decide to move forward, they will be judged not just by present-day headlines but by future generations who will ask: When democracy was under threat from the autocrats, did we stand firm or did we flinch?

Beyond Trump: Protecting Democracy in an Age of Authoritarianism

This struggle transcends the particular personality of Donald Trump. It speaks to a broader question facing democracies worldwide: How can democratic systems resist subversion without becoming what they oppose?

There’s no easy answer to that question, but there are clear red lines. Allowing someone who attempted to overturn a democratic election to address one of the world's oldest democratic assemblies definitely crosses such a line. It normalises the anti-democratic behaviour we claim to oppose. It treats assaults on democracy as just another policy disagreement rather than the existential threat to the least-worst system of government we have.

The Line Must Be Drawn Here

A second Trump State Visit may be unavoidable now, given diplomatic realities. But Parliament - the very symbol of our democratic heritage and aspirations - must remain off-limits to this autocratic goon.

The Speakers in Parliament have both precedent and principle on their side and they should use them to deny Trump this privileged platform.

If you believe that Parliament's podium should be reserved for those who have demonstrated a genuine commitment to democratic values, that the honour of addressing Parliament must be earned through respect for democratic norms, please sign and share our petition.

The eyes of the world will be watching. So too will future generations, who will judge whether, at this pivotal moment, we had the courage to stand firm in defence of the democratic principles we claim to cherish, or instead chose national humiliation by rolling over and tickling the tummy of this tangerine tyrant.