ON MONDAY there was a Westminster Hall debate to consider two petitions relating to a state visit by US President Donald Trump. These were being debated as both had attracted more than 100,000 signatures.

The first - Prevent Donald Trump from making a State Visit to the United Kingdom – had more than 1.86 million signatures, almost 4,000 of them from Cardiff South and Penarth.

The second - Donald Trump should make a State Visit to the United Kingdom – had around 314,000 signatures, with just under 400 of those from this constituency.

That local margin is reflected in correspondence I’ve received – with scores of emails, letters and calls from constituents who are against a state visit, and just a few who support it. Ultimately, I speak for my constituents and I know where they firmly stand.

I’ve made my personal views clear already, through my EDM which won significant backing from MPs, and locally through this column; I have no objection to necessary meetings, visits, discussions and inter-governmental contact, but I object to a full state visit.

I spoke in Monday’s debate to reiterate those views, saying: “This is not about whether Donald Trump should be banned from coming to this country or whether our Government should have contact with him—indeed, it is absolutely right that the prime minister meets the president to discuss matters of mutual interest…

“The fundamental issue is that we have rushed into offering the Palace, the Mall, the razzmatazz, the champagne and the red carpet…

“That is why I have spoken out so strongly on using the Palace of Westminster, and particularly Westminster Hall... It is a rare and special honour, and I am delighted that this is the most signed petition of this Session and that it has support from all parts of the House.

“We have a special responsibility when it comes to the special relationship with our greatest ally and friend. We cannot accept the denigration of the free press, the judiciary, women and religious minorities, the banning of refugees and the advocacy of torture as the new normal.

"It would not be acceptable from any country, and it is certainly not acceptable from our greatest ally and one of the countries that has frequently stood up for the values of liberty, equality, democracy and the rights and equality of all before the law. That is why we have a special responsibility in this House to speak out.”