Alex Salmond has suggested that Theresa May’s intention to see through Donald Trump’s state visit to the United Kingdom comes from a position of economic “weakness.”
In his latest video monologue, the former Scottish First Minister takes the Prime Minister to task for fast-tracking a visit from the controversial US President mere days after Trump took to office and enforced an anti-Muslim border ban in America.
“A state visit hasn’t been offered to even the greatest of presidents until two to three years into their presidency,” Mr Salmond said.
His view is that Theresa May has invited Trump to the UK as a means to necessarily “ingratiate” herself, given the continuing fallout of Brexit.
“When she invokes article 50 she’s not just going to leave the European Union, she’s going to leave the high ground of the single marketplace,” he said.
“She should reverse her decision to withdraw from the single marketplace. Stay in until people negotiate to get you out.
“In a world where protectionism is running rife, we’re going to abandon the biggest free market in the world. That puts her in a weak position, desperate to find a trade deal with anybody anywhere.
“If she continues on the road she’s on there will be one humiliation after the other.”
Beyond the various demonstrations which have taken place throughout the country, an online petition to halt the visit has gathered 1.7m signatures following President Trump’s executive order which bans citizens of various Muslim countries from entering the United States.
The petition demands: “Donald Trump should be allowed to enter the UK in his capacity as head of the US Government, but he should not be invited to make an official State Visit because it would cause embarrassment to Her Majesty the Queen.
“Donald Trump’s well-documented misogyny and vulgarity disqualifies him from being received by Her Majesty the Queen or the Prince of Wales. Therefore during the term of his presidency, Donald Trump should not be invited to the United Kingdom for an official State Visit.”