The British Parliament has to consider debating whether to ban Donald Trump from entering the country after a petition to keep him out rapidly gained almost 500,000 signatures as of Thursday.
The British Parliament has to at least consider debating petitions once they surpass 100,000 signatures. It's unlikely it would actually go through, though.
"The U.K. has banned entry to many individuals for hate speech," the petition's description says.
Scottish resident and longtime Trump critic Suzanne Kelly started the petition, which 30,000 people signed in less than an hour Wednesday morning. Kelly condemned Trump for "unrepentant hate speech and unacceptable behavior" that "foments racial, religious and nationalistic intolerance which should not be welcome in the U.K."
Britain's Chancellor George Osborne recommended Wednesday engaging in "robust and democratic debate" instead of banning him from entry.
Yet several British politicians are on board. Labour Party lawmaker Jack Dromey warned that the "dangerous fool" should not come "within 1,000 miles of our shores." The Muslim Council of Britain echoed the call and recommended that Parliament apply the same standards to Trump as they would to others who "espouse hatred." Sarah Wollaston, a Member of Parliament for the ruling Conservative Party, recommended a "serious discussion." Labor MP Tulip Siddiq, a Muslim, said, "If you're not going to welcome people like me into your country, then we don't want to welcome you."
Trump caused an uproar when he proclaimed Monday that the U.S. should enact a "complete shutdown" of Muslim immigration. He also alleged that certain neighborhoods of Paris and London were so radicalized that "police are afraid for their own lives."
London Metropolitan Police rebuked Trump’s claim, saying he “could not be more wrong." London Mayor Boris Johnson slammed the comments as "complete and utter nonsense."
However, Trump has an ally in Britain First, a far-right group, which advocated to “let him” into the U.K.
This article was updated to reflect the latest number of petition signatures.
CORRECTION: This story previously stated that the U.K. had to debate the ban. They only have to consider debating it.
