Donald Trump could face ban from UK after more than half a million people sign petition

Controversial candidate: Donald Trump called for a complete ban on Muslims entering the US
AP
Sebastian Mann31 December 2015
WEST END FINAL

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The Home Secretary Theresa May has indicated she may be prepared to ban Donald Trump from the UK over his "divisive" comments about Muslims.

In an official response to a record-breaking petition to ban the US presidential hopeful from the country, the government said the Home Secretary can ban individuals "if she considers their presence in the UK to be non-conducive to the public good".

The statement said: "The Home Secretary has said that coming to the UK is a privilege and not a right and she will continue to use the powers available to prevent from entering the UK those who seek to harm our society and who do not share our basic values."

It added Ms May considered Mr Trump's comments "divisive, unhelpful and wrong", but said the government did not comment on individual exclusion cases.

Earlier this month Mr Trump said: "We have places in London and other places that are so radicalised that the police are afraid for their own lives. We have to be very smart and very vigilant."

The Metropolitan Police said: "We would not normally dignify such comments with a response, however on this occasion we think it’s important to state to Londoners that Mr Trump could not be more wrong."

The controversial Republican front-runner for president earlier this month called for a complete ban on Muslims entering the US.

The extreme pledge came after the San Bernardino terror shooting in California on December 2 which left 14 people dead.

His comments sparked a petition which broke records as tens of thousands rushed to sign within days of its launch.

More than half a million people have now signed the petition, five times more than is needed for parliament to consider the matter for a debate.

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