THE SNP has urged the Government to challenge US President Donald Trump on his human rights record, attitude towards women and treatment of minorities when he visits the UK this week.
Ian Blackford, the party's Westminster leader, said Trump - who is due to arrive in the UK on Thursday - would "regretfully" have the "red carpet rolled out".
Blackford, who had earlier asked for a debate to remember the Srebrenica genocide, said: "Anniversaries such as these should remind all of us of the dangers of extreme bigotry - the world that we live in today is a dangerous one.
"Tomorrow, the president of the United States of America will regretfully have the red carpet rolled out for him by this Conservative Government.
"But from the public, the welcome will be far from warm."
He said there were protests planned across Scotland and the UK against Trump's "abhorrent policies and dangerous rhetoric", and asked: "Will the minister follow the SNP's lead and challenge President Trump on his abysmal record on human rights, his repugnant attitude towards women and his disgusting treatment of minorities?
"Or does the minister think he will simply follow the Prime Minister's lead and join the president hand in hand?"
Cabinet Office Minister David Lidington, responding in place of Theresa May during PMQs, disagreed, saying: "This country's relationship with the United States of America is probably the closest between any two democracies in the West.
"It has lasted through democratic and republican presidencies alike, and through Labour and Conservative presidencies on this side of the Atlantic."
He added: "Because of the security co-operation we have with the United States, there are UK citizens who are alive today who might well not be alive had that co-operation and information-sharing not taken place, and it is therefore right that we welcome the duly elected president of our closest ally as we shall do so tomorrow."
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