BANNING Donald Trump from Britain would only make a “martyr” of the wannabe
US presidential candidate, fuelling publicity for his campaign, MPs said
yesterday.
The tycoon was described as a “wazzock”, a “demagogue”, “crazy” and a “fool”
by politicians who said blocking him from the UK would “play into his
hands”.
His comments last year calling for all Muslims to be banned from entering
America following the San Bernardino attacks prompted worldwide outrage.
MPs debated the issue at Westminster yesterday after a petition calling for
the US billionaire to be banned from Britain got more than 570,000
signatures.
Tory MP Sir Edward Leigh said banning the Republican would only “play into Mr
Trump’s hands”.
READ MORE:
Trump
divides opinion among MPs debating whether to ban the racist billionaire
from Britain
Obama
attacks Donald Trump’s policy of fear and tells Americans to reject the
loud-mouthed racist
Donald
Trump says Kim Jong-un deserves ‘credit’ for killing all his rivals
He told MPs: “His entire style of politics is to stoke controversy and say
outrageous things. Lavishing him with attention, even if our intent is to
condemn or deride, is only falling into the trap he has set us.”
Tory MP Tom Tugendhat added: “While I think this man is crazy, while I think
this man has no valid points to make, I will not be the one to silence his
voice.”
But Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh, the SNP’s trade and investment spokeswoman said the
Home Secretary had already excluded 84 people from Britain for hate speech.
She added: “Under her judgment, my view is that Donald Trump should be number
85.”
Despite the debate, Home secretary Theresa May has the final say on whether he
could be kept out the country.
David Cameron has described Mr Trump’s comments as “divisive, stupid and
wrong” but said he did not think he should be banned.