Jeremy Corbyn refuses invitation to state banquet with Donald Trump

Jeremy Corbyn has refused an invitation to a state banquet with Donald Trump.

The Labour leader joins Commons Speaker John Bercow and Lib Dem leader Vince Cable in boycotting the lavish dinner - to be held for the President's State Visit in June.

He said in a statement: " Theresa May should not be rolling out the red carpet for a state visit to honour a President who rips up vital international treaties, backs climate change denial and uses racist and misogynist rhetoric.

“Maintaining an important relationship with the United States does not require the pomp and ceremony of a state visit.

"It is disappointing that the Prime Minister has again opted to kowtow to this US administration.

“I would welcome a meeting with President Trump to discuss all matters of interest.”

President Trump and First Lady Melania are set to visit the UK from June 3-5 in a long-delayed State Visit, including a lavish dinner hosted by the Queen.

Downing Street confirmed Theresa May will attend the banquet.

But more than 80 MPs from opposition parties have signed a bid to block the visit by a President accused of "misogynism, racism and xenophobia".

A spokeswoman for Commons Speaker John Bercow said: “Mr Speaker has been invited to the Banquet, but he will not be attending.”

His spokeswoman refused to give any reason.

Lib Dem leader Sir Vince Cable also turned down his invite to the banquet, saying: "We should not be beguiled by pomp and circumstance into hobnobbing with a man who is on record as a misogynist and a racist."

The trip was two and a half years in the offing after an invitation was originally extended at the start of 2017.

But the trip was repeatedly delayed as the billionaire sought to avoid protests over his attacks on refugees and women.

He finally made a lavish first visit to the UK in July, costing police £18m and sparking huge protests in major cities.

Despite a black tie palace dinner, a four-day stay and meeting with the Queen, that was only a "working visit".

Trump will be hosted by the Queen during the new visit - though he is not expected to stay at Buckingham Palace.

And protesters are planning to revive a baby blimp depicting the president in a nappy over London.

The balloon, a six metre high helium filled inflatable of Trump, was hoisted in Parliament Square during the American leader's visit to the UK last summer.

It shows him as a giant, angry, orange baby wearing a nappy while holding a mobile phone.

Trump will visit Prime Minister Theresa May for talks in Downing Street which are bound to be besieged by protests and high security.

During last year's Working Visit the President mostly avoided London, instead meeting the PM at her country residence Chequers.

Hundreds of D-Day veterans will be given a naval gun salute as they sail across the channel to France to mark the anniversary of the Normandy landings.

The Ministry of Defence promised thousands of troops, dozens of planes and an armada of naval vessels.

There will be a flypast of 26 RAF aircraft including a Spitfire and the Red Arrows, before veterans embark on a ship to France.