Shah: Trump represents everything I have fought against

BRADFORD MP Naz Shah has claimed inviting US president Donald Trump on a state visit to the UK would be an endorsement of anti-Muslim views.

By The Newsroom Monday, 20th February 2017, 6:30 pm Updated Tuesday, 28th February 2017, 12:33 pm

Bradford West MP Naz Shah

Ms Shah accused Mr Trump of treating Muslims as “the enemy within” as she backed a 1.8m-strong petition, started by a Leeds solicitor, calling for the state visit invitation to be withdrawn.

The Bradford West MP, herself a Muslim, said: “I am not an enemy to western democracy, I am part of western democracy. I fought my election really hard, I fought against that bigotry, the sexism, the patriachy to earn my place in this House.

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“By allowing Donald Trump a state visit and bringing out the crockery, the china, the red carpet what we are doing is endorsing all those views, all those things I fought hard against and saying ‘do you know what, it is ok’.”

Ms Shah was speaking as MPs debated the petition started by Graham Guest and a second, which attracted 300,000 signatures, supporting the decision to invite Mr Trump.

The call to downgrade the visit was supported by Dewsbury MP Paula Sherriff who drew attention to comments about women made by Mr Trump which emerged during the presidential campaign,

Cleethorpes MP Martin Vickers said it was “perfectly

legitimate” that his constituents had signed both petitions.

He continued: “But for a government to support one of those petitions, particularly the one in favour of banning the president, would be

irresponsbile and self-indulgent. The Government must separate the individual from the office and act in the British national interest.

“There is no doubt that our relationshipwith the United States is essential in terms of both the economy and security.

“If a state visit will engance those ties it is something we should support.”

The state visit was also supported by Ribble Valley MP Nigel Evans wwho compared Mr Trump’s election to the Brexit vote, saying that both votes were driven by a feeling among many in the population of being “left behind”.

He said: “We have to ask ourselves why is it that people felt so left behind that they made the democratic decisions that they have which we think we can’t understand - how could you possibly vote for Brexit? How could you possibly vote for Donald Trump?