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Woman behind petition to ban Trump from UK ‘shocked’ by support Woman behind petition to ban Donald Trump from UK ‘shocked’ by support
(about 14 hours later)
Suzanne Kelly, a campaigner from Aberdeen whose petition to ban Donald Trump from the UK on the grounds of hate speech has acted as a lightning rod for public disgust at the US presidential candidate’s Islamophobia, has said she is “as shocked as anyone” by its success.Suzanne Kelly, a campaigner from Aberdeen whose petition to ban Donald Trump from the UK on the grounds of hate speech has acted as a lightning rod for public disgust at the US presidential candidate’s Islamophobia, has said she is “as shocked as anyone” by its success.
Related: Donald Trump will not be barred from Britain despite Muslims outburstRelated: Donald Trump will not be barred from Britain despite Muslims outburst
The petition, which was racking up more than 25,000 signatures an hour on Wednesday afternoon, was lodged before Trump made his remarks on Monday, in the wake of the San Bernardino shootings, that Muslims should be banned from entering the US.The petition, which was racking up more than 25,000 signatures an hour on Wednesday afternoon, was lodged before Trump made his remarks on Monday, in the wake of the San Bernardino shootings, that Muslims should be banned from entering the US.
But its appearance on the parliamentary petitions website on Tuesday appeared to galvanise the growing public condemnation, and the petition has already exceeded the 100,000 signatures required to force the Commons petitions committee to consider debating the issue.But its appearance on the parliamentary petitions website on Tuesday appeared to galvanise the growing public condemnation, and the petition has already exceeded the 100,000 signatures required to force the Commons petitions committee to consider debating the issue.
Kelly said: “I never in my wildest dreams imagined it would get so many signatures in under 24 hours. I thought it would be a huge victory if it got to 100,000 signatures by the end of its lifetime, so I’ve been as shocked as anyone, although pleasantly so.”Kelly said: “I never in my wildest dreams imagined it would get so many signatures in under 24 hours. I thought it would be a huge victory if it got to 100,000 signatures by the end of its lifetime, so I’ve been as shocked as anyone, although pleasantly so.”
Kelly, a contributing writer for the community website Aberdeen Voice, who has been investigating Trump’s activities and the objections of local residents to his golfing development for several years, lodged the petition on 28 November.Kelly, a contributing writer for the community website Aberdeen Voice, who has been investigating Trump’s activities and the objections of local residents to his golfing development for several years, lodged the petition on 28 November.
“The more I looked at Donald Trump and the remarks he has made before entering the presidential race, the more my hackles were rising. This man is no longer a joke in the corner, but someone who is aiming to become leader of one of the most powerful nations in the world,” she said.“The more I looked at Donald Trump and the remarks he has made before entering the presidential race, the more my hackles were rising. This man is no longer a joke in the corner, but someone who is aiming to become leader of one of the most powerful nations in the world,” she said.
Related: Utterly repellent and malignant: world reacts to Trump's anti-Muslim tiradeRelated: Utterly repellent and malignant: world reacts to Trump's anti-Muslim tirade
“There are few things a person in my position can do against a person like that but make use of this country’s wonderful laws and procedures. This petition also gives all those people who agree with me a platform to say we also disagree with hate speech.”“There are few things a person in my position can do against a person like that but make use of this country’s wonderful laws and procedures. This petition also gives all those people who agree with me a platform to say we also disagree with hate speech.”
Kelly predicted that George Osborne may be forced to make a U-turn after the chancellor suggested at prime minister’s questions on Wednesday that it was best to combat Trump through robust democratic debate and not try to ban him.Kelly predicted that George Osborne may be forced to make a U-turn after the chancellor suggested at prime minister’s questions on Wednesday that it was best to combat Trump through robust democratic debate and not try to ban him.
“As dismayed as I’d be if George Osborne had to make a U-turn, I think that a lot of his colleagues will not be prepared to let this go away. And I look forward to Osborne explaining to me what is so acceptable about what Trump has been doing when other people are banned for it,” she said.“As dismayed as I’d be if George Osborne had to make a U-turn, I think that a lot of his colleagues will not be prepared to let this go away. And I look forward to Osborne explaining to me what is so acceptable about what Trump has been doing when other people are banned for it,” she said.