Banning Trump could give him 'halo' of martyrdom, debate hears

MPs debate on whether to ban Donald Trump from UK. Credit: Reuters

Video report by ITV News Political Correspondent Carl Dinnen

Over a three-hour debate, MPs argued over whether to ban the controversial billionaire Donald Trump from entering the UK, after more than half a million Britons signed a petition to ban him from coming here.

The Republican presidential hopeful caused international uproar last month when he suggested that one of the solutions to the threat of terrorism in the US was to ban Muslims from entering the country.

The debate at Westminster Hall, led by Labour's Paul Flynn, was the result of a petition signed by more than 570,000 people asking the UK Government to exclude the billionaire from the country, noting action against "hate speech" must take place regardless of a person's wealth or power.

Flynn warned that today's event might be interpreted by Trump and others in America as showing disrespect for the American nation as a whole, and could boost support for the Republican presidential candidate by giving him a "halo" of martyrdom.

"Stupidity" should not be a reason to ban one from entering the country, said Conservative MP Paul Scully, while Labour's Tulip Siddiq said she failed to see the funny side of Trump’s comments.

Conservative MP Victoria Atkins said that while her constituents would call Trump a "wazzock", Britons should still have confidence in the country's values and defend free speech.

Mr Trump provoked widespread anger after he demanded a block on Muslims entering the US and claimed parts of London were "so radicalised" that police were "afraid for their own lives".

The debate has been condemned as "absurd by one of Trump's senior employees in Scotland, and the tycoon has threatened to pull out of future UK investment worth around £700 million if MPs ban him from the country.

SNP's Corrie Wilson, whose constituency includes a golf resort owned by Trump, said the billionaire should not be given the spotlight he sought, but warned of potential consequences for the area.

The debate was not followed by a vote. Only interior minister Theresa May can issue an order banning entry into Britain, and Prime Minister David Cameron has said that while Trump's comments were divisive, he does not favour barring him.