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| U.K. Parliament debates: Donald Trump imports a ‘violent ideology’ | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| LONDON — Debate began Monday in the British Parliament over whether to ban U.S. Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump from visiting the United Kingdom. | LONDON — Debate began Monday in the British Parliament over whether to ban U.S. Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump from visiting the United Kingdom. |
| The debate, which was started by an online petition that described Trump’s comments about Muslims as “hate speech,” will not produce any binding decisions. Authority to ban someone from the country rests with the home secretary, not with Parliament. But the debate will give British lawmakers an unusual chance to weigh in directly on U.S. politics. | The debate, which was started by an online petition that described Trump’s comments about Muslims as “hate speech,” will not produce any binding decisions. Authority to ban someone from the country rests with the home secretary, not with Parliament. But the debate will give British lawmakers an unusual chance to weigh in directly on U.S. politics. |
| Here are the latest updates from the debate at the Palace of Westminster. All times are Eastern: | Here are the latest updates from the debate at the Palace of Westminster. All times are Eastern: |
| 12:30 p.m. — Naz Shah, a Labour member, brings up the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. who, she says, “deserves more recognition today than does Donald Trump.” She says the way to defeat Trump is to “challenge him with goodness.” As a Muslim woman, she would be banned from the United States under Trump’s plan. But she won’t support banning him from the United Kingdom. Instead, she wants to invite him to Bradford, “the curry capital of Britain.” She would serve him food and take him to the mosque, she said. | |
| 12:27 p.m. — Add another to the list of those opposing a ban. Tom Tugendhat, a Conservative backbencher, says the United Kingdom has no business intervening in British politics. “While I think this man is crazy,” Tugendhat says, “I will not be the one to silence his voice.” | |
| 12:19 p.m. – Gavin Robinson, a member of the Democratic Unionist Party from Northern Ireland, is also using the opportunity of this debate to rip his opponents, including republicans in Northern Ireland and nationalists in Scotland who, he says, once welcomed Trump with open arms but now condemn him. Trump, who’s of Scottish heritage, has invested heavily in Scottish golf courses and was until recently a business ambassador for Scotland. | |
| 12:15 pm. – There doesn’t seem to be much enthusiasm for a ban – at least so far. Robinson adds his voice to those saying Trump should be invited to Britain so he can be shown how wrong he is, rather than banned. Trump, he says, is “a ridiculous xenophobe. But someone we don’t need to promote any further.” | |
| 12:10 pm. – Edward Leigh, a Conservative backbencher, says those who want to shut down a demagogue may be guilty of demagoguery themselves. “If we only allow freedom of speech for those we agree with, is that free speech at all?” He condemns Trump, and says he’s personally pro-gun control, pro-public health care and has nothing in common politically with Trump. But he says banning Trump is an attempt to “shut down the debate over immigration.” | |
| 12:06 p.m. — Tulip Siddiq, a Labour member from north London, is the next to rise. She supports keeping Trump out, saying, “I draw the line at freedom of speech when it imports a violent ideology.” The government’s option to ban people is intended to protect the public. It should be applied to Trump, and he should be banned from visiting “the multicultural country that we are so proud of.” | |
| 11:58 a.m. — Paul Scully, a Conservative, says Trump’s comments were born out of “fear.” He says he wants to emphasize the positive contributions that immigrants make to British society. | |
| 11:55 a.m. – Scully says other bans have been enacted for reasons of “incitement or hatred.” Referring to the idea of banning Trump, he says: “I’ve never heard of one for stupidity. I’m not sure we should be starting now.” | |
| 11:53 a.m. – Scully emphasizes that it’s not up to Parliament to decide whether Trump is banned. It’s up to the Home Secretary, Theresa May. But, he says: “I’m sure she’ll be listening.” | |
| 11:50 a.m. – Labour lawmaker Paul Flynn concludes with a turn-the-other-cheek message, saying Britain should respond to Trump’s “words of prejudice” with “a hand of friendship.” Flynn wants to invite Trump to Britain, and show him around. And with that, Flynn yields the floor. Looks like a lot of others are ready to speak. | |
| 11:44 a.m.: Flynn has been interrupted several times by other members, one of whom calls Trump “a ridiculous figure.” No one has expressed a word of support for Trump, and some have suggested Flynn may be going easy on him. | 11:44 a.m.: Flynn has been interrupted several times by other members, one of whom calls Trump “a ridiculous figure.” No one has expressed a word of support for Trump, and some have suggested Flynn may be going easy on him. |
| 11:42 a.m.: Flynn says as much as he disagrees with Trump, he worries that banning him would give him a “halo of martyrdom.” | |
| 11:39 a.m.: Flynn pays tribute to the Unites States as the land of “Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King and Barack Obama.” The debate, he says, isn’t about disrespecting the United States; it’s about the comments of one man. | |
| 11:34 a.m.: Flynn cites other cases when the United Kingdom enacted bans. Many of those, he says, involved “an immediate threat of violence,” which he stresses is different than this case. | |
| 11:30 a.m.: The debate begins with Flynn reading two petitions — one calling for Trump to be banned, and the other saying Britain should “mind our own business.” The petition favoring a ban attracted more than 570,000 signatures. The one opposing a ban received about 40,000. The debate is being held outside the main chamber of the House of Commons, with members gathered in a semi-circle. Several dozen members appear to be present. | |
| This is a developing story. More updates to come. | This is a developing story. More updates to come. |
| In nearly a millennium of history, the Palace of Westminster has played host to kings and queens, endured Nazi bombing raids and showed the world how a people could govern themselves through representative democracy. | In nearly a millennium of history, the Palace of Westminster has played host to kings and queens, endured Nazi bombing raids and showed the world how a people could govern themselves through representative democracy. |
| But it has never seen a day quite like the one expected Monday, when the building’s cold stone walls will echo with a parliamentary debate over whether to ban from Britain the leading Republican contender for president of the United States. | But it has never seen a day quite like the one expected Monday, when the building’s cold stone walls will echo with a parliamentary debate over whether to ban from Britain the leading Republican contender for president of the United States. |
| It will be a strange moment for politics on both sides of the Atlantic. Normally, British officials avoid getting involved in U.S. politics — and vice versa. The Anglo-American alliance, a bedrock of Western security, is supposed to transcend politics. | It will be a strange moment for politics on both sides of the Atlantic. Normally, British officials avoid getting involved in U.S. politics — and vice versa. The Anglo-American alliance, a bedrock of Western security, is supposed to transcend politics. |
| Donald Trump’s reality-show-style emergence as Republican front-runner, however, is putting that notion to the test. Brits have watched his rise with a mixture of bemusement, alarm and indignation — the latter coming after he alleged that certain areas of London were off-limits to police because of rampant Islamic radicalization. | Donald Trump’s reality-show-style emergence as Republican front-runner, however, is putting that notion to the test. Brits have watched his rise with a mixture of bemusement, alarm and indignation — the latter coming after he alleged that certain areas of London were off-limits to police because of rampant Islamic radicalization. |
| [The world reacts to Trump’s proposed ban on Muslims entering the U.S.] | [The world reacts to Trump’s proposed ban on Muslims entering the U.S.] |
| The parliamentary debate was triggered when more than a half-million people signed an online petition arguing that Trump should be outlawed from visiting Britain because of his call last month to ban Muslims from entering the United States. Trump’s proposal, petitioners said, amounted to “hate speech.” | The parliamentary debate was triggered when more than a half-million people signed an online petition arguing that Trump should be outlawed from visiting Britain because of his call last month to ban Muslims from entering the United States. Trump’s proposal, petitioners said, amounted to “hate speech.” |
| For three hours Monday — beginning at 11:30 a.m. Eastern time — members of Parliament will have a chance to say whether they agree. But although Trump’s words have been widely condemned in Britain — from across the political spectrum — there is little chance he will be banned. Instead, he may well find himself invited for a visit. | For three hours Monday — beginning at 11:30 a.m. Eastern time — members of Parliament will have a chance to say whether they agree. But although Trump’s words have been widely condemned in Britain — from across the political spectrum — there is little chance he will be banned. Instead, he may well find himself invited for a visit. |
| “I’d offer myself as a guide to take him around town,” said Paul Flynn, a member of Parliament from the center-left Labour Party. “I’d be delighted if he took me up on it.” | “I’d offer myself as a guide to take him around town,” said Paul Flynn, a member of Parliament from the center-left Labour Party. “I’d be delighted if he took me up on it.” |
| Flynn has been designated to argue on behalf of the petitioners who want Trump banned — and Flynn said in an interview that he has sympathy for their cause. Trump’s remarks on Muslims, Mexicans, women and the disabled, Flynn said, “are outrageous.” | Flynn has been designated to argue on behalf of the petitioners who want Trump banned — and Flynn said in an interview that he has sympathy for their cause. Trump’s remarks on Muslims, Mexicans, women and the disabled, Flynn said, “are outrageous.” |
| But Flynn said he will ultimately argue against a ban. | But Flynn said he will ultimately argue against a ban. |
| “The last thing we want to do is assist him by awarding him a garland of victimhood,” said the 80-year-old, who represents an immigrant-heavy area of Wales. “A ban is not going to achieve anything. It would be far better to test his claims.” | “The last thing we want to do is assist him by awarding him a garland of victimhood,” said the 80-year-old, who represents an immigrant-heavy area of Wales. “A ban is not going to achieve anything. It would be far better to test his claims.” |
| The Muslim Council of Britain has taken a similar line, calling for Trump to name the no-go neighborhoods of London and saying it would be happy to “organize a multi-faith delegation to accompany Mr. Trump and tour these areas.” The group even promised to pay for Trump’s lunch. | The Muslim Council of Britain has taken a similar line, calling for Trump to name the no-go neighborhoods of London and saying it would be happy to “organize a multi-faith delegation to accompany Mr. Trump and tour these areas.” The group even promised to pay for Trump’s lunch. |
| The British Home Office, which has the power to ban Trump, said in response to the petition that “coming to the U.K. is a privilege and not a right and [the Home Secretary] will continue to use the powers available to prevent from entering the U.K. those who seek to harm our society.” | The British Home Office, which has the power to ban Trump, said in response to the petition that “coming to the U.K. is a privilege and not a right and [the Home Secretary] will continue to use the powers available to prevent from entering the U.K. those who seek to harm our society.” |
| But the statement also said that “exclusion powers are very serious and are not used lightly.” | But the statement also said that “exclusion powers are very serious and are not used lightly.” |
| Prime Minister David Cameron, meanwhile, has called Trump’s comment about Britain “divisive, stupid and wrong.” But the Conservative Party leader has suggested that the government won’t ban him — arguing instead that a visit from the bombastic billionaire would “unite us all against him.” | Prime Minister David Cameron, meanwhile, has called Trump’s comment about Britain “divisive, stupid and wrong.” But the Conservative Party leader has suggested that the government won’t ban him — arguing instead that a visit from the bombastic billionaire would “unite us all against him.” |
| In keeping with the theme, opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn told the BBC on Sunday that he would like to take Trump to visit a mosque in Corbyn's north London constituency. | In keeping with the theme, opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn told the BBC on Sunday that he would like to take Trump to visit a mosque in Corbyn's north London constituency. |
| Despite Monday’s debate, Parliament doesn’t actually have the power to ban Trump. There won’t even be a vote. | Despite Monday’s debate, Parliament doesn’t actually have the power to ban Trump. There won’t even be a vote. |
| [Trump accused of throwing a tantrum over effort to ban him from the U.K.] | [Trump accused of throwing a tantrum over effort to ban him from the U.K.] |
| But Trump, who is of Scottish heritage, has not taken kindly to the debate. He has threatened to withdraw $1 billion of planned investment in his Scottish golf courses if the government moves against him. | But Trump, who is of Scottish heritage, has not taken kindly to the debate. He has threatened to withdraw $1 billion of planned investment in his Scottish golf courses if the government moves against him. |
| A travel ban, the Trump Organization said in a statement, “would send a terrible message to the world that the United Kingdom opposes free speech and has no interest in attracting inward investment.” | A travel ban, the Trump Organization said in a statement, “would send a terrible message to the world that the United Kingdom opposes free speech and has no interest in attracting inward investment.” |
| Some in Parliament, while not siding with Trump, have argued that the debate is frivolous. | Some in Parliament, while not siding with Trump, have argued that the debate is frivolous. |
| “The absurdity of Trump’s candidacy is matched only by the fact that he is set to be the subject of a debate in the House of Commons,” Jamie Reed, a Labour member of Parliament, wrote in a piece for Newsweek. “In the midst of so many domestic crises, this is a huge waste of U.K. taxpayers’ money.” | “The absurdity of Trump’s candidacy is matched only by the fact that he is set to be the subject of a debate in the House of Commons,” Jamie Reed, a Labour member of Parliament, wrote in a piece for Newsweek. “In the midst of so many domestic crises, this is a huge waste of U.K. taxpayers’ money.” |
| But the idea has attracted support from several prominent members, as well as from independent groups such as British Future, a migration-focused think tank. The group has noted that radical Islamist preachers and anti-Muslim bloggers, including Pamela Geller and Robert Spencer, have been banned. | But the idea has attracted support from several prominent members, as well as from independent groups such as British Future, a migration-focused think tank. The group has noted that radical Islamist preachers and anti-Muslim bloggers, including Pamela Geller and Robert Spencer, have been banned. |
| “Trump’s statements are more extreme than theirs,” wrote British Future’s director, Sunder Katwala. | “Trump’s statements are more extreme than theirs,” wrote British Future’s director, Sunder Katwala. |
| Citing those cases, Scottish National Party lawmaker Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh told the BBC on Monday that she would argue in favor of banning Trump. | Citing those cases, Scottish National Party lawmaker Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh told the BBC on Monday that she would argue in favor of banning Trump. |
| “What I will be doing today is asking that [Home Secretary] Theresa May exercise constancy in her approach to people who preach hatred,” she said. | “What I will be doing today is asking that [Home Secretary] Theresa May exercise constancy in her approach to people who preach hatred,” she said. |
| Flynn, the member of Parliament who will present the petitioners’ argument, said the difference between those cases and this one is that Trump “wants to be leader of the free world.” | Flynn, the member of Parliament who will present the petitioners’ argument, said the difference between those cases and this one is that Trump “wants to be leader of the free world.” |
| Selecting that leader, he said, is entirely up to U.S. voters. But if nothing else, he hopes that Monday’s debate offers a reminder: “It’s of huge consequence to the world who’s living in the White House.” | Selecting that leader, he said, is entirely up to U.S. voters. But if nothing else, he hopes that Monday’s debate offers a reminder: “It’s of huge consequence to the world who’s living in the White House.” |
| Karla Adam contributed to this report. | Karla Adam contributed to this report. |
| Read more | Read more |
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