“I suspect that Donald Trump’s words were borne out of his own fears, although as an aspirant leader he should be leading the way towards a clearer understanding of the issue”.
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Philip Davies, Tory MP for Shipley, said he had heard a large number of his constituents expressing the same views as Trump, and questioned whether those supporting the motion would want them to be excluded as well.
Yesterday’s debate was called after more than 570,000 people signed a petition entitled “Block Donald J Trump from United Kingdom entry”. More legislators seemed to oppose banning him outright.
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks during a campaign stop before next months earliest in the nation presidential primary, Monday, Jan. 11, 2016, in Windham, N.H.
The petition was launched following comments by the former presenter of the American version of The Apprentice that all Muslims should be banned from entering the U.S. in a backlash to potential terrorist action.
About 574,000 people have signed an online petition calling for Trump to be blocked for “hate speech” after he called for a temporary ban on Muslims entering the United States in the wake of attacks by extremists.
“His entire style of politics is to stoke controversy and say outrageous things”, said Conservative member Sir Edward Leigh.
LONDON Donald Trump doesnt have many fans in Britains Parliament.
The SNP MP told the chamber that imposing a ban would be “little more than an irritant to the man”. “But in my Islam, what it teaches me is that goodness is better than evil”, said Naz Shah, who represents a city in northern England, Bradford, with a high concentration of immigrants.
“I don’t think Donald Trump should be allowed within 1,000 miles of our shores”, he added.
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.
Prime Minister David Cameron said he did not support a ban on Trump, but he said the U.S. presidential candidate’s statement was “divisive, unhelpful and, quite simply, wrong”.
Jack Dromey, Labour’s spokesman on home affairs, argued that Britain could not afford to risk a visit from Trump at a time when it’s grappling with extremism – both Islamist and Islamophobic.
British Home Secretary Theresa May already has the power to ban certain visitors – including those deemed nonconducive to the public good for reasons such as a record of hate speech – but such a move would appear highly unlikely.
The petition came after the billionaire businessman claimed all Muslims should be banned from entering the USA following a terrorist attack in San Bernardino, California in December past year.
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Sarah Malones of Trump International Golf Links said in a formal statement: “It is absurd that valuable parliamentary time is being wasted debating a matter raised as part of the petition”.
