British Parliament debates banning Trump from United Kingdom after Muslim comments

He sparked fierce controversy last month when he called for a “complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States until our country’s representatives can figure out what the hell is going on”.

Only Minister of the Interior Theresa May can issue an order banning entry into Britain and Prime Minister David Cameron has said while Trump’s comments were “divisive, unhelpful and wrong”, he does not back the idea of barring him.

British lawmakers are obliged to consider for debate any petition on the government’s official petitions website that reaches 100,000 signatures.

No vote was held at the end of the debate, but many MPs said attempts to ban him go against British traditions of freedom of speech.

Flynn told the Associated Press that he would try to convey the anger of petitioners, but suggested banning Trump could be “counter-productive” by making him appear to be a victim.

“His words are not amusing”, said Labour lawmaker Tulip Siddiq, who supported the ban.

And he has recently defended his plan to build a wall to stop illegal immigration between the U.S. and Mexico. But it was a rare opportunity for members of Parliament to share their views about the billionaire real estate tycoon-turned-politician and debate USA politics.

Alex Chalk, a Conservative MP, said: “This is about bufoonery”.

Britain has the power to ban people with criminals records or who have “engaged in unacceptable behavior” from entering the country.

The petition sought to ban Trump from Britain under powers which the interior minister has to exclude any individual if it is “conducive to the public good”.

His comments prompted more than half a million Britons to sign a petition calling for him to be barred from entering the country, where he has business interests.

Edward Leigh of the Conservative Party, said barring Trump would cause the U.K.to “fall into a trap he has set for us” to get more publicity.

“I don’t think Donald Trump should be allowed within 1,000 miles of our shore because he would embolden the EDL on the one hand and fuel the flames of terrorism on the other hand”. She added that Trump’s words were “not amusing, but poisonous”.

Ms Shah said she wouldn’t be calling for a ban but did want to challenge his rhetoric of “badness” by inviting him to West Yorkshire in a gesture of goodwill.

Some disagreed with the need to ban Trump – but not because they particularly like the guy.

Despite the division over the ban, MPs were united in condemning Trump.

Trump has threatened to pull £700m of investment in Scottish golf courses if he were to be slapped with a ban.

Ahead of the debate a statement came from Sarah Malone, executive vice president of Trump International Golf Links in Scotland, saying that the debate was a waste of time. This call has been criticized by a lot of people, even from his own Republican party, and now attracting the attention of the British MPs.