Published: Thursday, 14th December 2017
A Council Motion calls for President Trump's State Visit plans to be abandoned.
In addition to calling on the Government to abandon the plans, the Council has also declared that 'should a State Visit go ahead, President Trump would not be welcome in the borough'.
Sadness at his 'bigoted attitude'
The Motion was adopted at the Full Council Meeting of the Royal Borough, held on 13 December. The Council expressed 'alarm at the decision of President Trump to retweet Islamophobic Propaganda' and 'sadness at the President's bigoted attitude towards women and ethnic minorities'.
'So much more in common than divides us'
Cllr Denise Hyland, Leader of the Council said: "On a daily basis we work hand in hand with residents from all communities to ensure this borough is a peaceful and welcoming place that celebrates difference and diversity, but in the case of President Trump we are willing to make an exception. We are one of 32 London boroughs, all different, all individual but all home to people from across the world.
"This diversity strengthens our borough. It enriches our lives on a daily basis. And it reminds us all that we have so much more in common than divides us. As one of the most multi-cultural London boroughs, we are a place that has worked tirelessly to break down barriers. We have no time for people who want to build walls, when we have done so much to break them down."
President's views 'incompatible' with our work
The motion was prompted by President Trump's decision to retweet the extremist far-right Britain First Twitter account. It also follows the President's open criticism of London Mayor Sadiq Khan just hours after seven people were killed and 48 people injured in the London Bridge terror attack.
Cllr Chris Kirby, who presented the Motion said: "President Trump has regularly expressed abhorrent and aggressive views and in doing so has enabled the spread of division and hatred. We have worked incredibly hard in this Borough to build strong community ties across all faiths and backgrounds - President Trump's views, attitude and policies are totally incompatible with that work."
'No place for hateful rhetoric' in our borough
Cllr Kirby went on to say that: "As a Council we hold responsibility for more than 270,000 residents. We took the view that we could not stand by and watch the level of public debate be poisoned by the rhetoric that the President and others like him have continued to use.
"We have stood up and made our position clear: there is no place for aggressive, bigoted and hateful rhetoric in the Royal Borough of Greenwich."