Jeremy Corbyn snubs state banquet invite during Donald Trump’s UK visit

Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn has turned down an invitation to a state dinner during US President Donald Trump’s visit to the UK in June.

Corbyn joins Liberal Democrat leader Vince Cable and House of Commons speaker John Bercow in snubbing the event.

Read more: Labour MPs table bid to thwart Donald Trump's UK state visit

“Theresa May should not be rolling out the red carpet for a state visit to honour a president who rips up vital international treaties, backs climate change denial and uses racist and misogynist rhetoric,” Corbyn said in a statement today.

The Labour leader said maintaining the relationship between the UK and the US was “important” but does “not require the pomp and ceremony of a state visit.”.

“It is disappointing that the prime minister has again opted to kowtow to this US administration,” he said.

However, Corbyn added that he would welcome a meeting with Trump to “discuss all matters of interest”.

Read more: DEBATE: Is the uproar over Donald Trump’s state visit unwarranted?

The US president will make his second official visit to the UK on 3 June, where he will have official talks with Theresa May and attend a ceremony in Portsmouth with the Queen to mark the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings.

Trump’s visit to the UK last year was met with demonstrations as thousands of people took to the streets in London and Edinburgh to protest the president’s policies.