The e-petition intended to convince the UK government from refusing to grant Donald Trump entry into the UK has reached nearly 400,000 signatures, meaning that parliament will have to consider it for a debate.
The petition was set up in response to Trump’s comments that the US should consider prohibiting any Muslims from the US for a period of time, a statement which he made during one of his presidential campaign rallies. Created by Suzanne Kelly, the petition needed 100,000 signatures in order to be considered by Parliament, though it has almost quadrupled its target with 6 months still to go, with it ending on June 8th 2016.
The petition reads: “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.”
However, according to the Guardian, a Downing Street spokesman has said that there are “no plans” for Trump to visit the UK, meaning that “suggestions of a ban from Britain [are] hypothetical”. A number of UK politicians have condemned Trump’s comments regarding Muslims, with London mayor Boris Johnson also speaking out regarding the entrepreneur’s claims that parts of the English capital are “so radicalised the police are afraid for their lives”, saying: “London has a proud history of tolerance and diversity and to suggest there are areas where police officers cannot go because of radicalisation is simply ridiculous.”
He added that Trump’s views “flew in the face of the founding principles of the American founding fathers”.
