Theresa May, pictured on the Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier today,
is facing renewed demands to cancel a state visit for Donald Trump
to bloodshed at a neo-Nazi rally - as she faced renewed demands
to cancel his state visit invite.
The Prime Minister said leaders had a 'responsibility' to condemn
the Far Right after he reignited a furious row over his attitude
towards white supremacists.
Following days of pressure, including from senior Republicans,
Mr Trump finally issued a statement singling out far-right
demonstrators for violence in Charlottesville, Virginia on
Saturday, that left a woman dead.
But he appeared to revert to his original stance again last
night by insisting there was 'blame on both sides' and the
protesters included some 'fine people'.
'There's blame on both sides,' President Trump said last night
of a deadly Nazi rally in Virginia – bringing stern rebukes
from fellow Republicans
Mrs May said this morning: 'I see no equivalence between those
who propound fascist views and those who oppose them.
'I think it is important for all those in positions of responsibility
to condemn far right views wherever we hear them.'
The PM spoke out after a series of ministers and MPs
broke cover to criticise the US commander-in-chief.
Posting on Twitter this morning, Communities Secretary Sajid
Javid pointedly said he 'learned as a child' that Neo-Nazis were 'bad'.
'Neo-Nazis: bad Anti-Nazis: good I learned that as a child.
It was pretty obvious,' he wrote.
Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson did not seek
to veil her disdain.
'The President of the United States has just turned his face to the
world to defend Nazis, fascists and racists. For shame,' she said.
Prisons minister Sam Gyimah posted: 'Words matter. Silence matters.
We must call out hate - unambiguously - to preserve the free & tolerant
society many have fought and died for.
'The 'leader of the free world' loses moral authority when he cannot
call fascism by its name.'
Violence erupted on Saturday after a group of far-right extremists
marched against a decision to remove a statue of a Confederate
general.
Heather Heyer, 32, later died when a car was driven into a
crowd of anti-fascist demonstrators.
Downing Street made clear earlier this week that the Prime Minister
'condemned the Far Right' over the incident.
But she is facing calls to go further by cancelling the invitation
for the President to make a state visit to the UK.
Shadow defence secretary Nia Griffith tweeted: 'A state
visit by DonaldTrump would shame this country and betray
all we stand for. Theresa May should revoke the invitation
immediately.'
Nottingham South MP Lilian Greenwood said Mr Trump's
comments were 'sickening' and a 'new low'.
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