The Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has urged Theresa May to put British values first and “say no to waterboarding” when she meets Donald Trump.
The Prime Minister is the first foreign world leader to meet the controversial new US President. In his first television interview, Trump said torture such as waterboarding “absolutely” works, and that the US should “fight fire with fire”.
Corbyn, who has a long record of campaigning on human rights, tweeted: “Theresa May, when you meet Donald Trump, you must put our values, not America first.
“Say no to waterboarding. It’s torture.”
. @theresa_may when you meet @realDonaldTrump, you must put our values, not America first.
Say no to Waterboarding. It’s torture— Jeremy Corbyn MP (@jeremycorbyn) January 26, 2017
Speaking in the Commons yesterday, May said: “Our position on torture is clear: we do not sanction torture and do not get involved in it. That will continue to be our position.”
While in usual circumstances, being the first foreign leader to meet the new US President is seen as a boon, May’s trip to the US has been criticised, because of Trump’s comments and the UK’s position regarding Brexit.
Corbyn also urged the PM to ensure that any US-UK trade deal would not open up the NHS to privatisation and control by American corporations.
Vince Cable, the former Liberal Democrat MP and a colleague of hers during the Coalition government, tweeted: “Appalling error by May to grovel to Trump for trade deal. He wants to destroy free trade.”
Appalling error by May to grovel to #Trump for trade deal. He wants to destroy #freetrade
— Vince Cable (@vincecable) January 25, 2017
May will give the Trumps an engraved Scottish goblet called a quaich, and a hamper of produce from the PM’s country estate, Chequers.
As all we know, love & admire about the US falls under a dark shadow, Mrs May arrives in Washington in supplication. We should all quaich.
— Paddy Ashdown (@paddyashdown) January 26, 2017
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