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MPs are set to debate Trump's UK state visit after both for and against petitions hit their signatures target

MPs are set to debate Trump's UK state visit after both for and against petitions hit their signatures target
MPs are set to debate Trump's UK state visit after both for and against petitions hit their signatures target MPs are set to debate Trump's UK state visit after both for and against petitions hit their signatures target

MPs will next month debate whether US President Donald Trump should make a state visit to Britain – after more than 1.6 million people signed a petition calling for the trip to be downgraded gained the support.

The Westminster Hall debate, which is taking place on February 20, will also consider a rival petition in support of Trump’s state visit, which has more than 114,000 signatures.

Veteran Labour left-winger Paul Flynn, a member of the Petitions Committee, will open the debate.The announcement comes amid widespread outrage at Trump’s temporary immigration ban on nationals from seven mainly Muslim countries.Those opposing the visit see this as good news:

The petition states: “Donald Trump should be allowed to enter the UK in his capacity as head of the US Government, but he should not be invited to make an official State Visit because it would cause embarrassment to Her Majesty the Queen.”Meanwhile, the rival petition in support of Trump’s visit says: “Donald Trump should be invited to make an official State Visit because he is the leader of a free world and the UK is a country that supports free speech and does not believe that people that appose (sic) our point of view should be gagged.”And those in favour of the visit, took to Twitter to express their views:

Although many are convinced the petition to downgrade his visit won’t be upheld: