Petition calling for Donald Trump's state visit to be banned passes 800,000 signatures

MPs could debate growing calls to scrap Donald Trump’s state visit to Britain after a petition passed 800,000 signatures the day after it was launched

The US President has accepted an invite from the Queen to come to the UK this year but faces an intensifying backlash against his travel ban on refugees and people from Muslim-majority countries.

A petition launched by Graham Guest from Leeds passed 100,000 signatures on Sunday at around 12.30pm – after it was launched on Saturday.

By 10.45pm, more than 800,000 had signed their names to the call for Mr Trump to be prevented from visiting the UK because it would “embarrass” the Queen.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, Lib Dem leader Tim Farron and SNP foreign affairs spokesman Alex Salmond have all called for the trip to be axed.

Mr Guest said he feared Mr Trump would use the state visit and accompanying photo opportunities with the Queen to bolster 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.

"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 attract more than 100,000 signatures will be considered for a Commons debate.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan told Sky News: "I am quite clear, this ban is cruel, this ban is shameful, while this ban is in place we should not be rolling out the red carpet for President Trump.

"I don't think he should be coming on a state visit while the ban is in place, I couldn't be clearer."

While Mr Corbyn told ITV's Peston On Sunday: "I think we should make it very clear we are extremely upset about it, and I think it would be totally wrong for him to be coming here while that situation is going on. I think he has to be challenged on this.

"I am not happy with him coming here until that ban is lifted, quite honestly."

And Lib Dem leader Tim Farron said: "Any visit by President Trump to Britain should be on hold until his disgraceful ban comes to an end.

“Otherwise Theresa May would be placing the Queen in an impossible position of welcoming a man who is banning British citizens purely on grounds of their faith."

A No 10 spokesman said: "An invitation was extended and has been accepted."