Donald Trump will visit the UK this month despite attempt to ban him
Republican Presidential hopeful Donald Trump has confirmed he will visit the UK this month – despite an attempt to ban him from the country.
A Parliamentary petition to ban Trump from the UK attracted 586,274 signatures, after Trump called for Muslims to be banned from the US and claimed police ‘fear for their lives’ in British cities.
Trump had threatened to sever his ties with the UK after MPs debated the ban in Parliament.
However, Trump today confirmed he will visit Scotland later this month, where he is set to cut the ribbon at the Trump Turnberry golf resort in Ayrshire.
The visit will take place on June 24 – the day after the EU referendum.
It is unclear how long the reality star will be in the country, or whether he has planned other engagements – but the visit is likely to spark fierce protests.
In its response to the Trump petition, the UK government had declined to back a ban.
The government had said: “The Government has a policy of not routinely commenting on individual immigration or exclusion cases.
“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.
“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.
“Exclusion powers are very serious and are not used lightly. The Home Secretary will use these powers when justified and based on all available evidence.
“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.
“The Government recognises the strength of feeling against the remarks and will continue to speak out against comments which have the potential to divide our communities, regardless of who makes them.
“We reject any attempts to create division and marginalisation amongst those we endeavour to protect.”
