Donald Trump is set to address Parliament for the first time as part of a historic second state visit.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer will hand over an invitation from the King when he meets the US President in Washington this week.
This is expected to involve Mr Trump formally addressing MPs and Lords – ahead of his first state visit he had been controversially blocked by former speaker John Bercow.
It would be part of an attempt to promote British interests and make clear to Mr Trump that the UK is his true ally. ‘Hopefully this would get better engagement for UK PLC,’ a senior source said.
The three ‘keyholders’ of Westminster Hall, where foreign leaders usually address Parliament, are the Commons Speaker, the Lord Speaker and the Lord Great Chamberlain, who is represented by Black Rod.
All three have to agree for a visit to take place, after a request is made by the Government. In 2017 then-speaker Mr Bercow banned Mr Trump from addressing Parliament during his state visit.
At the time Theresa May welcomed the President, who heaped praise on the Queen during the state banquet in his honour. But Mr Bercow used his veto power to block a formal address to Parliament based on Mr Trump’s migration policies. He told MPs such a visit was ‘not an automatic right, it is an earned honour’.
Senior sources confirmed to The Mail on Sunday that this time both the Lord Speaker and Commons Speaker would welcome a visit.
One source said: ‘Trump is the leader of the free world. He has just been elected with a large majority. Why would you want to say no? It will be interesting to see what he’s going to tell Parliament.’
The visit would involve an address to both Houses of Parliament, with MPs, Lords and senior staff invited.
Last night Mr Trump gave a wide-ranging speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington, touting the accomplishments of the first month of his presidency.
The PM will travel to Washington for talks with Mr Trump on Thursday. The two are scheduled to meet privately before posing together in the Oval Office and then holding a joint press conference. Sir Keir is expected to use the visit to announce the date by which he will boost spending on defence to 2.5 per cent of GDP, as well as
reinforcing Britain’s commitment to supporting Ukraine – in an attempt to convince Mr Trump Europe is prepared to do more.
He will also formally invite Mr Trump to a state visit, which would make the President the first elected leader to receive the invitation twice in modern history.
The PM will be accompanied by Foreign Secretary David Lammy. US ambassador Lord Mandelson is also expected to attend.
Last night Sir Keir’s plans to offer a state visit were praised by politicians from both main parties. One senior Labour MP said: ‘It makes sense to offer a state visit. The Prime Minister needs to make clear he is not going to shift his position on Ukraine and the Russian invasion.
‘He can be firm on that while still being friendly – you have to do both things at once. He needs to be clear on what our values are, and say to Trump, we are your friends, instead of shouting at him.’
The MP added the visit ‘is really fraught’. ‘The question is, who is he going to pay attention to? We want that to be us.’
The last US president to address Parliament during a state visit was Barack Obama in 2011. Ronald Reagan also spoke to MPs in 1982 and Bill Clinton in 1995, although neither were during a state visit.
A source close to Lord McFall, the Speaker in the upper house, said he would not object to Mr Trump addressing Parliament.
In 2017 his predecessor Lord Fowler criticised Mr Bercow’s decision to ban Mr Trump. The former speaker had said to MPs in justification: ‘After the imposition of the migrant ban by President Trump, I am even more strongly opposed to an address by President Trump in Westminster Hall.’
It is understood ministers are yet to make their formal approach to the Lords and Commons Speakers. But last night sources close to both Speakers said a repeat of Mr Bercow’s ban would not happen.
Former Tory veterans minister Tobias Ellwood, who attended Mr Trump’s inauguration, welcomed the state visit plans and said the Royal Family had to be involved, as it is ‘one of the most critical aspects of Britain that Trump respects and wants, that the United States doesn’t have’.
He added: ‘If we’re going to have any form of leverage, we need to be deploying it, 100 per cent.
Any opportunity to improve backchannels, get your message across, to nudge the White House to think differently, should absolutely be leveraged at every opportunity. We need to persuade it is in America’s interests to have a strong Europe. That is better done through state visits, through backchannels.’
Mr Ellwood, a fellow of the Atlantic Council think tank, added: ‘We mustn’t get distracted by the frenzy of commentary, or spooked by dramatic rhetoric. We want to keep America close.’
But some MPs warned talk of a state visit would be an unwelcome distraction from the big issues.
Labour MP Alex Sobel said: ‘Keir Starmer has rightly said the UK Government stands ‘ready and willing’ to act to guarantee the security of Ukraine as part of international efforts to get a lasting peace.
‘Tomorrow it is three years since Russia invaded Ukraine and attempted to capture Kyiv and overthrow the democratically elected government. All our efforts should be focused on a fair, just and lasting peace for the Ukrainian peoples.’
Sources close to Mr Trump say they expect Thursday’s meeting will be ‘courteous and productive’ despite tensions over Ukraine.
‘The President has always valued the unique relationship between America and Britain, longtime allies and friends. But he will continue to put the interests of America first,’ the sources added.
As well as Westminster Hall, addresses by foreign leaders can also take place in the Royal Gallery or Robing Room, depending on the size of the crowd.
Mr Reagan addressed Parliament in the Royal Gallery after Labour’s Michael Foot stopped him using Westminster Hall.