AN MP warned the government they were making a “rod for their own back” by “inviting a fascist like Trump to come to Britain”.
Speaking in the House of Commons on a debate on the cost of policing the president’s visit, veteran Labour MP Dennis Skinner asked Tory Home Office minister Nick Hurd to justify why the president had been welcomed to the UK.
“What on earth are the Government playing at by inviting a fascist like Trump to come to Britain and cause all the mayhem that we have heard about from Labour members, requiring police from every part of the British Isles? Do the Government, and in particular the Prime Minister, want to hold his hand again? Is that what it is all about? They are making a rod for their own back,” Skinner warned.
Hurd said the that Trump was “the democratically elected leader of the United States of America, which is historically, and currently, our most important ally”.
Every force in the UK is sending officers to look after the president, in what will be one of the biggest policing operations ever.
Named Operation Manifold, it’s expected to cost around £12 million – some £5m of which will be spent in Scotland.
Rest days have been cancelled, which could will likely have a huge knock-on effect for every force.
On Wednesday, it emerged that officers being sent to London were being accommodated in cots on squash courts, with 100 female officers with four toilets between them likely to be sleeping on mats tonight, and 300 male officers with five toilets between them, no access to power, and no hot running water.
There were complaints from officers about freezing cold showers, and cramped conditions.
Claire Laura, from West Midlands Police, shared a picture of the gym on social media and said: “Colleagues of mine have been deployed for some president visiting and this is their bed for three nights after working 12-hour shifts. Prisoners get better conditions. And their own toilet.
“Beyond disappointed with how colleagues are not being looked after! I would actually like to meet the individual who thought these conditions are acceptable?!”
Labour’s Louise Haigh said this was “no way to treat our overstretched officers”.
Calum Steele, the general secretary of the Scottish Police Federation, pointed out conditions in Scotland would be better. He tweeted: “For any officers from England & Wales coming to Scotland on Mutual Aid to assist our @policescotland colleagues with the visit of @POTUS I can confirm that the accommodation will be of single room en-suite with clean towels & linen.”
Hurd said concerns had “been raised directly with Essex police”, who were responsible for the squash court accommodation.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel