Trump shrugs off giving UK Parliament speech during state visit

Donald Trump has said there is no need to recall MPs to Parliament so he can make a speech during his upcoming UK state visit, saying “let them have a good time” instead.

In an exclusive phone call with the BBC, the US president suggested MPs should not be brought back especially, saying: “I don’t want that to… that would be making the speech pretty negatively.”

Trump is due to begin his three-day visit on 17 September, just a day after the House of Commons breaks up for the annual party conference season.

While the House of Lords will still be sitting, a joint address to both Houses – as per tradition – can only happen when both are in session.

Asked what he hopes to achieve during his visit, Trump said: “I think I want to…