Theresa May insists she had no prior warning of US ban on refugees
The PM tells the Commons that the refugee and travel ban imposed by President Trump is "divisive and wrong".
Wednesday 1 February 2017 15:57, UK
Theresa May has told MPs she did not have prior warning from US President Donald Trump about his ban on refugees.
During Prime Minister's Questions, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn asked why Downing Street had not denied the suggestion that Mrs May had advance notice of some aspects of the controversial travel ban.
The executive order temporarily bans all refugees as well as nationals from seven predominantly Muslim nations.
In a carefully worded reply, the PM told the Commons she did not receive advance notice of the refugee ban or that Britons would be affected by the restrictions while she was at the White House last week.
However, she pointed out: "If he is asking if I had advance notice of the travel restrictions, the answer is we all did, because President Trump said he was going to do this in his election campaign."
Protests have taken place across the world following the order, including cities throughout the UK.
Mrs May has been criticised for not condemning the ban in strong enough terms, but at the despatch box she emphasised the exemptions her ministers had gained for anyone with a British passport.
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"The job of government is not to chase the headlines, the job of government is not to take to the streets in protest," she told Mr Corbyn.
"The job of government is to protect the interests of British citizens and that is exactly what we did."
The PM described the policy as "divisive and wrong".
More than 1.7 million people have called for President Trump's state visit to be cancelled following the outcry over the travel ban.