London 7 Feb (ANA) - Commons Speaker John Bercow has been criticised for voicing his opposition to US President Donald Trump addressing Parliament during a state visit. Senior Tories told the BBC his comments had caused a lot of anger, with one saying it was "utterly outrageous" and others saying he should be impartial. Mr Bercow said "opposition to racism and sexism" were "hugely important considerations" for the Commons. US Congressman Joe Wilson said it was a "slap" to Mr Trump's Republican Party. Mr Bercow is one of three "key holders" to Westminster Hall, along with the Speaker of the House of Lords, Lord Fowler, and the Lord Great Chamberlain, a hereditary peer in charge of certain parts of the Palace of Westminster. All three must agree in order for an address to take place. Lord Fowler will address peers on the issue on Tuesday. Last month, Prime Minister Theresa May said Mr Trump had accepted an invitation from the Queen for a state visit to the UK later this year. However, responding to a point of order in the Commons on Monday, Mr Bercow said he was opposed to the president addressing both Houses of Parliament - as other international leaders have done. He said it was "not an automatic right", but an "earned honour". "I feel very strongly that our opposition to racism and sexism and our support for equality before the law and an independent judiciary are hugely important considerations in the House of Commons," he told MPs.(ANA)

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