Quotes from UK Parliament debate on banning Donald Trump

More than 570,000 Britons signed an online petition demanding that Trump be banned from the U.K. Members of Parliament also could consider a petition not to ban Trump, although that appeal drew just over 43,000 signatures.

Labour Party legislator Paul Flynn opened a debate on a call for the USA presidential hopeful to be excluded after he called for a temporary ban on Muslims entering the U.S.

Trump drew global condemnation when he called for a “total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States until our country’s representatives can figure out what is going on”.

David Cameron also has said he does not support a ban, while condemning Trump’s comments about Muslims as “divisive, stupid and wrong”.

“I will question whether a ban would be possible or perhaps counter-productive in bestowing victimhood on Mr Trump that could advantage him in the opinion of Americans”, Labour MP Paul Flynn, who will lead the debate, said on his website ahead of the debate.

Mr Brokenshire said: “Mr Trump has threatened to withhold investment in Scotland in response to the calls to ban him from the UK”.

At Monday’s debate, some MPs condemned the fact that it was being held at all. “He’s not free to be a risky fool on our shores”, argued Jack Dromey, a senior MP in the main opposition Labour Party, who wants him banned.

There are moments when Britain’s Parliament seems to be the nation’s debating chamber, when it’s possible to imagine the country listening as members discuss matters of peace and war.

“Hate crime is being inflamed and stoked by the words that Donald Trump is using”, she remarked.

“It is in the UK’s interests that we engage all presidential candidates, Democratic and Republican, even though we may disagree profoundly on important issues”, he said.

Naz Shah, a British Muslim, rejected the idea of banning the Republican from the country and said she thinks she would “have a proper laugh with him”. While MPs were united in their condemnation of Trump’s comments, they couldn’t agree on the wisdom of the proposed ban on Trump.

During the debate in Westminster Hall, Conservative former minister Andrew Murrison questioned whether any ban would be overturned should the “ridiculous” Mr Trump be elected USA president. It cited his “dangerous” and inflammatory “hate speech” as grounds to refuse Trump entry.

“In that event, would such a ban be overturned, since it would be one almighty snub to the American citizens to which you have been referring”. She said was “a proud Muslim woman” and the Quran had taught her that “goodness is better than evil.

There is a high level of distaste in London for Donald Trump, CBC’s Ellen Mauro reported Monday.

Trump’s mother was born in Scotland, and he owns a golf resort there.