UK ‘may exclude’ Donald Trump after 565,000 sign petition

US presidential candidate Donald Trump may be ‘excluded’ from Britain after over 565,000 people signed a petition seeking a ban on his entry after he recently made comments derogatory to Muslims.

Updated on: Dec 31, 2015, 07:42:40 IST

Hindustan Times | By Prasun Sonwalkar, London

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US presidential candidate Donald Trump may be “excluded” from Britain after over 565,000 people signed a petition seeking a ban on his entry after he recently made comments derogatory to Muslims.

US Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally in Council Bluffs, Iowa. (Reuters Photo)

The David Cameron government posted a response to the petition on Wednesday, after previously condemning his remarks made during a political rally. The comments earlier this month invited much ridicule and worse in Britain.

The petition attracted the requisite number of signatories for it to be considered for discussion in parliament.

The government response said: “For good reasons the Government does not routinely comment on individual immigration and exclusion decisions. The Home Secretary may exclude a non-European Economic Area national from the UK if she considers their presence in the UK to be non-conducive to the public good.”

It added: “The Home Secretary has said that coming to the UK is a privilege and not a right and she will continue to use the powers available to prevent from entering the UK those who seek to harm our society and who do not share our basic values.

“The Prime Minister has made clear that he completely disagrees with Donald Trump’s remarks. The Home Secretary has said that Donald Trump’s remarks in relation to Muslims are divisive, unhelpful and wrong.”

Reiterating earlier comments against Trump, the response said the government recognised the strength of feeling against his remarks and will continue to speak out against comments which have the potential to divide communities, regardless of who makes them.

“We reject any attempts to create division and marginalisation amongst those we endeavour to protect,” it added.

Donald Trump says criticism of ex-president Bill Clinton is ‘fair game’

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Prasun Sonwalkar
Prasun Sonwalkar was Editor (UK & Europe), Hindustan Times. During more than three decades, he held senior positions on the Desk, besides reporting from India’s north-east and other states, including a decade covering politics from New Delhi. He has been reporting from UK and Europe since 1999.Read More

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