News / Politics

British MPs to debate ban on Trump's entry into UK

Wednesday, 06 January 2016 1:57 AM [ Last Update: Wednesday, 06 January 2016 8:11 AM ]

US Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump

US Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump may be banned from entering the UK following a public petition signed against his anti-Muslim comments.

UK officials in the House of Commons announced on Tuesday that a hearing session would be held in Westminster Hall on January 18 to debate calls for banning Trump’s entry to the UK in the aftermath of his controversial remarks against Muslims, which has prompted over 560,000 people to sign a public petition urging action against the billionaire businessman.

Helen Jones, the Labor MP who chairs the committee, said the move would allow for "a range of views" to be expressed.

"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," she said. "As with any decision to schedule a petition for debate, it simply means that the committee has decided that the subject should be debated."

Trump, who is seeking the Republican presidential nomination in the US, 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”.

Justifying his comments, he claimed there were “places in London and other places that are so radicalized that police are afraid for their own lives."

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

Meanwhile, US Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton savaged Trump’s “dangerous” rhetoric about Muslims, and urged that his candidacy be “rejected roundly” by the American people.

*US Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton (AFP)*

“We should not reward people who use inflammatory rhetoric, who use the kind of derogatory comments, whether it's about Muslims, or Mexicans, or women, or people with disabilities, whoever it might be,” Clinton said. “That is not a sign of leadership. That's a sign of, you know, showmanship, of desperation, that should be rejected roundly by the American people.”

Polls, however, show Trump continues to lead the crowded Republican field despite making controversial remarks against Mexican immigrants, women, and Muslims.

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