Donald Trump petition: MPs to debate whether to ban billionaire from the UK

Controversial: Donald Trump
AP
Tom Marshall5 January 2016
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MPs are to debate calls for Donald Trump to be blocked from entering the UK.

The debate will take place on Monday January 18 after more than 560,000 people signed a petition calling for the tycoon to be banned from the country.

The controversial billionaire is seeking to run as the Republican candidate in the American presidential election.

Mr Trump faced an international backlash last month after urging a "total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States until our country's representatives can figure out what is going on".

He was also widely criticised for claiming London is so radicalised that police fear for their lives.

Prime Minister David Cameron condemned the remarks as "divisive, stupid and wrong" but made clear he did not support banning Mr Trump.

Petitions on the Parliament.uk website which reach 100,000 signatures are automatically considered for a debate.

The petition created by Suzanne Kelly said: "The signatories believe Donald J Trump should be banned from UK entry.

"The UK has banned entry to many individuals for hate speech. The same principles should apply to everyone who wishes to enter the UK.

"If the United Kingdom is to continue applying the 'unacceptable behaviour' criteria to those who wish to enter its borders, it must be fairly applied to the rich as well as poor, and the weak as well as powerful."

The Commons Petitions Committee has scheduled a session in Westminster Hall on January 18.

Politicians will also discuss a separate petition opposing such a ban, even though it only garnered around 40,000 signatures.

Prime Minister David Cameron condemned the remarks as "divisive, stupid and wrong" but made clear he did not support banning Mr Trump.

Labour MP Paul Flynn, a member of the committee, will lead the parliamentary debate.

Chairwoman Helen Jones said: "By scheduling a debate on these petitions, the committee is not expressing a view on whether or not the Government should exclude Donald Trump from the UK. As with any decision to schedule a petition for debate, it simply means that the committee has decided that the subject should be debated.

"A debate will allow a range of views to be expressed."

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