What do senior British politicians gain from boycotting the state banquet for Donald Trump?

Donald Trump will attend a state banquet at Buckingham Palace on Monday night – the first time he has been honoured with such an event since he became president.

The Republican’s only other official visit to the UK – last July – was not a full state visit and so did not include the usual dinner hosted by the Queen.

Tonight, however, she will join with other members of the royal family and an array of government ministers to welcome the US president.

Several prominent political figures will not be present, however, including John Bercow, the House of Commons speaker, and party leaders Jeremy Corbyn and Sir Vince Cable.

Mr Bercow announced several weeks ago that he would not take part. His spokesperson said: “Mr Speaker has been invited to the banquet, but he will not be attending.”

He has not explained his decision, but has been a vocal critic of Mr Trump and even intervened to suggest he would veto any attempt to give the US president the honour of speaking in parliament.

Commenting on the prospect of the US president addressing parliament, Mr Bercow said previously: “I feel very strongly that our opposition to racism and to sexism and our support for equality before the law and an independent judiciary are hugely important considerations.”

It is usual for leaders of the UK opposition parties to attend banquets for visiting heads of states but Labour leader Mr Corbyn and the Liberal Democrat’s Sir Vince are both boycotting the dinner because of Mr Trump.

Mr Corbyn has criticised the decision to offer the US president a state visit, saying: “Theresa May should not be rolling out the red carpet for a state visit to honour a president who rips up vital international treaties, backs climate change denial and uses racist and misogynistic rhetoric.

“Maintaining an important relationship with the United States does not require the pomp and ceremony of a state visit. It is disappointing that the prime minister has again opted to kowtow to this US administration.”

Sir Vince, meanwhile, said: “We should not be beguiled by pomp and circumstance into hobnobbing with a man who is on record as a misogynist and a racist. Rolling out the red carpet to Trump is a shameful stain on this government.”

Both leaders will know that taking a stance against Mr Trump will go down well with their party base. It would also be difficult for them to justify attending the lavish white tie dinner for the US president having so openly criticised him and the decision to welcome him to the UK.

While it is somewhat extraordinary for party leaders to boycott the visit of a sitting US president, these are not ordinary times, and Mr Trump is no ordinary president.

In truth, though, the boycott will have little impact. While Mr Trump is notoriously sensitive to such snubs, he is more likely to be revelling in his welcome from the royals than worrying too much about opposition party leaders.

Still, the fact that the likes of the House of Commons speaker and the leader of the opposition are boycotting the dinner is a sign of the widespread animosity to Mr Trump in the UK. As thousands of people take to the streets to protest against the US president, they are likely to take comfort in the fact that some of the most senior political figures in the country are equally opposed to the Republican’s royal welcome.