Furious campaigners have demanded that Donald Trump be barred from addressing the UK Parliament during his upcoming state visit, accusing the US President of a “consistent disregard for democratic values” and calling on Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle to block any such move. A petition on Change.org titled “Stop Donald Trump addressing UK Parliament” had attracted more than 41,000 signatures as of 8pm on Tuesday, with the number continuing to rise.

The petition, launched by Corin Dalby, states: “We believe it would be completely inappropriate to invite US President Donald Trump to speak in the UK Parliament, as part of his state visit to the UK. President Trump has shown a consistent disregard for democratic values. He has made troubling remarks about the UK and its institutions, and is unable to clearly condemn the Russian invasion of Ukraine – which all UK political parties have strongly opposed.” Mr Trump is due to return to the UK later this year on a state visit, having been formally invited by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer during a meeting in Washington last autumn.

Campaigners argue that, while official talks are unavoidable, Parliament must not provide a platform to a figure they accuse of undermining democratic norms and “flouting the courts and the rule of law.”

The petition highlights the precedent set by former Speaker John Bercow, who refused to allow Mr Trump to speak in the House of Commons during his 2019 visit, and urges Sir Lindsay Hoyle to take the same stance.

Quoting Labour MP Kate Osborne, it reads: “We support the call for the Speaker to refuse such an address.”

She and other signatories argue that allowing Mr Trump to speak would contradict the UK’s core democratic principles.

The petition also cites Labour peer Lord Foulkes, who said: “While the government is obliged to deal with governments of all kinds, Parliament should not welcome a leader who is anti-democratic and flouts the courts and the rule of law.”

The organisers add: “The values of British democracy are not for sale. They are not negotiable.

"Sign this petition to stand up for those values and stop Donald Trump from addressing our Parliament.”

Although no formal request to address MPs has been confirmed, any such proposal would need the approval of both the Speaker of the Commons and the Lord Speaker in the House of Lords.

Mr Trump previously visited the UK as President in 2018 and 2019, meeting the late Queen Elizabeth II and attending a state banquet at Buckingham Palace.

His presidency was marked by sharp criticism of NATO allies, clashes with British leaders over Brexit, and ongoing legal troubles that continue to divide opinion.

There has been no response from the Speaker’s Office or clarification from Parliament on whether an invitation to address MPs will be extended.

But campaigners are pressing their case ahead of time. One signatory commented: “We are not anti-American. We are anti-authoritarian – and Trump should never be allowed to speak in our Parliament.”