UK politicians currently debating whether or not to ban Donald Trump from Britain.

[Bad Dog]

Stopping Donald Trump from coming to the UK risks turning him into a martyr, a Labour MP has claimed during a three-hour House of Commons debate.

Paul Flynn said Mr Trump's call to ban Muslims from the US was "extremely dangerous" but barring him from the UK risked being seen as anti-American.

However, SNP MP Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh said a ban would be justified on the grounds of "religious harmony".

A petition advocating a ban has attracted 574,000 signatures.

Monday's debate, which took place in a packed Westminster Hall committee room, ended without a vote.


Home Office minister James Brokenshire said the government had the power to exclude people who would "do harm" but the US was the UK's most important ally and the UK should "engage" with presidential candidates even when it "profoundly disagreed" with their views.

The "Ban Trump" petition states that the UK "has banned entry to many individuals for hate speech" and argues that the rules must be "fairly applied to the rich as well as poor".
A counter-petition, also being debated although it has not reached the 100,000 signature mark, argues that foreign nationals should not be banned "for their opinions on domestic actions" and a ban would risk damaging US-UK relations given the possibility of a Trump victory in November's election.

Opening the debate in a crowded chamber, Mr Flynn said it would be wrong to ignore the ban petition, given that the "public was speaking with such a loud voice" and insisted the debate was not an attempt to "disrespect Americans or the American state".

Follow link to BBC with its own link to debate.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-35345279

[dixiegrrrrl]

1. One speaker admits Britain has "welcomed" war criminals, so why not Trump?

We have welcomed to the country Saudi and Chinese leaders, not to mention Mr Ceausescu, whose crimes are far worse than anything Mr Trump can dream up."

[malaise]

2. Repeat on CSpan now

It's interesting - meaningless but interesting