Donald Trump has been warned he will not be welcome in Wales on his upcoming state visit to the UK in the wake of his decision to withdraw the US from the Paris climate agreement.
Labour’s Stephen Doughty – who led a campaign to deny the US President the honour of an address to both Houses of Parliament – has called on the Prime Minister to “urgently” reconsider the invitation to Mr Trump.
But Ukip Assembly leader Neil Hamilton applauded Mr Trump’s decision and expressed hope that he would visit Wales and find a site for a new golf course.
Neil Hamilton: Trump's 'absolutely right'
Mid and West Wales AM Mr Hamilton said: “He’s absolutely right and he’s fully in line with Ukip’s policy in withdrawing from the Paris agreement. Quite regardless of whether mankind has been affecting the climate of the world, the Paris agreement is not going to make any progress towards carbon emissions because [China] is going to double its emissions of CO2 over the next 13 years and India’s going to treble them.
“And as between them they currently account for a third of all global emissions, if we close down the entire British economy that would only knock 2% off the world target so Donald Trump has woken up to the fact that this is a massive scam in effect to export jobs from the west to the east.”
Mr Hamilton hopes the US President will include Wales on his state visit to the UK.
He said: “I’d love him to come to my region of Mid and West Wales which covers 75% of the country but certainly I’d like him to come to Cardiff. I’d hope he’d find a site for a new golf course like the one he built in Scotland.”
Stephen Doughty: 'We should not be rolling out the red carpet'
However, incumbent Cardiff South and Penarth Labour candidate Stephen Doughty does not want the red carpet rolled out in Wales.
He said: “President Trump’s shameful decision to pull out of the Paris climate treaty is not merely as Theresa May has described ‘disappointing’ – it is disgusting and deeply dangerous for the world and has rightly been condemned by other European leaders and the United Nations. The fawning approach that Theresa May took to Trump in his first weeks in office and the infamous hand-holding now looks even more ill-judged and premature.
“I long argued we should not be rolling out the red carpet and offering full state honours to a man who had such objectionable views... There is a political consensus amongst most parties here in Wales with the exception of some Tories and Ukip on the devastating impact that climate change could have.
“We are already taking huge strides here with tidal energy and green policies...
“I know that Trump would not have any welcome here in Wales, not least after this shameful decision... I would urge Theresa May to urgently reconsider her ill-judged invitation.”
Jonathan Edwards: 'This man is a complete rogue president'
Plaid Cymru incumbent Carmarthen East and Dinefwr candidate Jonathan Edwards feared that hosting President Trump would send the “wrong message”.
Urging the Prime Minister to take a tougher stance, he said: “It’s clear to me this man is a complete rogue president... Clearly, climate change is an issue which affects the people of Wales and the people of the UK...
“We cannot condone and be seen to condone a President who is pursuing a very dangerous political agenda on one of the biggest issues humankind has ever faced. I’m not for banning people from anything but I think it would send the wrong message.”
Glyn Davies: Headline chasing will achieve 'absolutely nothing'
Incumbent Montgomeryshire Conservative candidate Glyn Davies cautioned against hasty actions.
He said: “I wish he’d not taken that decision... It’s a blow to the morale of those supporting decarbonisation policies and I think it’s damaging to the cause.”
But he added: “Rushing to make some public statement to secure headlines will achieve absolutely nothing. I think we should be exploring working with the [individual] states.
“The states in American have very considerable power themselves. California led the way on climate change in the past.”
Former Lib Dem Energy and Climate Change Secretary Ed Davey said: “Instead of the lavish trappings of a state visit, Trump should be greeted with robust British diplomacy. After all, what is the good of a special relationship unless we’re prepared to use it?”
