British parliament

In a striking announcement by John Bercow, the speaker of the British House of Commons, Donald Trump is to be barred from giving a historic address in Westminster Hall, the British Parliament's grandest and most prestigious hall.

Bercow announced he would not give the US President permission to speak in the 11th Century Westminster Hall when he makes a state visit. John Bercow slammed Trump for "racism and sexism", his undermining of judges and his migrant ban. Bercow's intervention is unusual because Speakers are expected to remain above Parliament's partisan fray.

The British parliament has approved a controversial bill which will provides mass surveillance powers to police and intelligence services that critics have condemned as the most intrusive in any Western country. The draconian new surveillance powers are set to become law before the end of the year after the Investigatory Powers Bill passed through the House of Lords on Wednesday. The ‘snooper’s charter,’ will create a legal framework authorizing the government to hack into devices, networks and services in bulk.