- Title: Over one million sign petition to halt Trump visit to UK
- Date: 30th January 2017
- Summary: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (JANUARY 30, 2017) (REUTERS) (MUTE) ONLINE PETITION SHOWING NUMBERS OF PEOPLE WHO SIGNED GOING FROM 1,121,861 TO 1,122,001 TO 1,122,190
- Embargoed: 13th February 2017 12:10
- Keywords: Boris Johnson Theresa May one million signatures. Britain Trump visit U.S. President petition
- Location: LONDON, ENGLAND / CARDIFF, WALES, UNITED KINGDOM
- City: LONDON, ENGLAND / CARDIFF, WALES, UNITED KINGDOM
- Country: United Kingdom
- Topics: Government/Politics,Elections/Voting
- Reuters ID: LVA001619VY9Z
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:At 1130GMT on Monday (January 30), more than 1.1 million people had signed a petition urging Britain to withdraw an invitation for U.S President Donald Trump to visit London and dine with Queen Elizabeth.
The petition was started before British Prime Minister Theresa May extended the invitation for a "State" visit to Trump last Friday (January 27), which means he would come by invitation of Queen Elizabeth II. Trump is set to visit to Britain later in the year.
The campaign to prevent the visit gathered momentum after Trump put a four-month hold on allowing refugees into the United States and temporarily barred travellers from Syria and six other Muslim-majority countries.
"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," the petition said.
Once a petition passes 100,000 signatures, lawmakers must consider the petition for debate.
Asked about the petition, a spokesman for Prime Minister Theresa May said Britain and the United States have a strong relationship and should continue working together.
British Foreign Minister Boris Johnson said he would comment in the UK parliament in the afternoon.
Lawmakers from the governing Conservative party and opposition Labour party have criticised Trump's move, with Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn saying the state visit should be put on hold. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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