Council to vote on blocking Donald Trump from Ashfield visit

Ashfield District Council is to consider a travel ban on Donald Trump, should be decide to swing by Nottinghamshire.
Can you imagine Donald Trump coming to Sutton? Ashfield councillors will vote on whether or not they would let him.Can you imagine Donald Trump coming to Sutton? Ashfield councillors will vote on whether or not they would let him.
Can you imagine Donald Trump coming to Sutton? Ashfield councillors will vote on whether or not they would let him.

The proposed vote would mean banning the use of any council funds to welcome the US President and provide hospitality if he were to visit the District as part of a state visit.

Put forward by Ashfield Independent Councillor Helen-Ann Smith, it would effectively take Ashfield off the list of potential areas for the President to visit on a UK tour.

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It is prompted by 'concern' that the UK government has decided to invite Mr Trump for a state visit, and his subsequent Muslim travel ban, which Coun Smith described as 'extreme' and 'discriminatory'.

Ashfield could impose a travel-ban on US President Donald Trump.Ashfield could impose a travel-ban on US President Donald Trump.
Ashfield could impose a travel-ban on US President Donald Trump.

The motion will be discussed at a full meeting on February 16, states: "This Council notes with concern the decision by the Government to invite US President Donald Trump on a state visit to the UK. This Council notes the extreme, discriminatory actions announced by the US President immediately after the visit of the Prime Minister to Washington DC.

"This Council further notes that some residents of Ashfield District are now barred from visiting the USA by these divisive measures."

The full council vote would then decided whether to "take no formal part in any state visit to the UK by the US President and to withhold any Council resources from being used to support any such state visit.”

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Coun Christine Quinn-Wilcox, Selston Independents, who seconded the motion, said: "It's a cost thing. He's not popular with half the country, and while he may be popular with the other half, why should we be wasting money on something like that when we are struggling financially?

Ashfield could impose a travel-ban on US President Donald Trump.Ashfield could impose a travel-ban on US President Donald Trump.
Ashfield could impose a travel-ban on US President Donald Trump.

"When dignitaries visit the country the local area picks up the tab, but it would be cheeky to ask the people of Ashfield who have nowhere near the income of the President, to pay for his hospitality."

The councillor added that it is not known if any families were individually affected by Mr Trump's travel ban, but there are residents in the district who originate in those countries which were banned and would not have been able to travel to the USA.

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