British MPs could be forced to debate growing calls to prevent President Donald Trump’s state visit to the UK after a petition has surpassed one million signatories.
The US President has accepted an invite from the Queen to visit Britain this year but is facing strong opposition after his travel ban on refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries.
A petition launched by Graham Guest from Leeds passed 100,000 signatures on Sunday at 12.30pm – after it was launched on Saturday.
At 9pm on Sunday, more than 700,000 had signed their names to the call for President Trump to be prevented from visiting Britain because it would “embarrass” the Queen.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron and SNP foreign affairs spokesman Alex Salmond have all called for the trip to be stopped.
Mr Guest said he feared President Trump would use the state visit and accompanying photo opportunities with the Queen to boost his image.
He said: “A state visit legitimises his presidency and he will use the photo opportunities and being seen with the Queen to get re-elected.
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“The wording in the petition is quite precise as I actually say that he should come here as the head of government to do government to government business.
“At the end of the day he is still the president and we’ve just got to live with that. But there’s no reason why he should get all the pomp and publicity of a state visit.
“I think a debate in Parliament to ban a state visit would be great as people will have had the chance to air their views on him.
“The petition is really just to make as much noise as possible and put the spotlight on him and what an awful person he is.”
According to the Parliament’s petition website, all submissions that receive more than 100,000 signatures will be considered for a Commons debate.
A No 10 spokesman confirmed that, “An invitation was extended and has been accepted.”
