Durkan defends House of Commons Speaker Bercow over his Donald Trump comments and says he was 'unfairly criticised'

SDLP Foyle MP Mark Durkan has said House of Commons Speaker John Bercow is being ‘unfairly criticised’ for voicing his opposition to US President Donald Trump addressing Parliament.

“I made the point last week that many of us have stood up during debates or at different events in the House of Commons or at Westminster saying we will show racism a ‘red card’, we will show sectarianism a ‘red card’, and that therefore we shouldn’t be showing the ‘red carpet’ to Donald Trump," said Durkan.

“I think it is unfair for people to criticise The Speaker for creating a controversy without recognising that the real sources of controversy are President Trump’s egregious policies and Theresa May’s premature announcement of a state visit.

“The Speaker has rightly pointed out that state visits do not always have to include an address in Parliament – and that Parliament is not obliged to extend any such invitation.”