More than 2000 South Tynesiders sign anti-Trump petition
- by Leland Aguilar
- in Entertaiment
- — Feb 3, 2017
Thousands of people are expected to attend a London rally on Monday to condemn a controversial entry ban introduced by U.S. President Donald Trump.
On the same day, lawmakers will also debate a second petition calling for the state visit to go ahead, which has been signed by more than 100,000 people.
Downing Street rejected calls to cancel Trump's visit later this year, saying that the invitation had been issued and accepted during last week's visit of Prime Minister Theresa May to the US.
Now the British government is under enormous pressure from opposition parties, individual lawmakers, the public and the media about a proper response to the executive order signed by Trump in his first week in the White House.
A petition that calls for Donald Trump's state visit to Britain to be downgraded is to be debated by MPs next month.
Under the rules, a petition that attracts over 1 million signatures is considered for debate in parliament.
The debate, at Westminster Hall, will also take in a rival petition containing more than 100,000 signatures which backs the new U.S. leader's state visit.
May announced the state visit during a meeting with Trump at the White House on Friday (27 January), which was meant to reaffirm the "special relationship" and boost trade ties after Britain leaves the European Union.
The statement came shortly after May's return from Turkey and following her Friday trip to the White House.
The petition was started after Trump signed an executive order on Friday putting an end to the country's Syrian refugees programme and banning people from Syria, Iraq, Yemen, Iran, Libya, Somalia and Sudan from entering the United States for 90 days.
Trump's executive order plunged America's immigration system into chaos, with legal US residents being turned away at airports, and drew criticism from Western allies, including France and Germany. However, some Britons with dual nationalities reported facing problems.
Johnson will be called to the House of Commons on Monday afternoon to answer questions on the policy.
"It's divisive & wrong to stigmatize because of nationality", he wrote.
