An online petition against American President Donald Trump is getting a lot of attention in the UK, with over 16 lakh signing the petition within just two days.
The petition, filed by Graham Guest in November last year, on the government-created petition.parliament.uk (2015) is now second most popular online petition in the UK.
It seeks a ban on Trump making an official state visit to the UK throughout his tenure as President.
It does not however object to Trump visiting the country as US President on working visits.
For a head of state to make an State Visit to another country, they need to be invited by the head of state of the host nation, and the guest is received with full state honors and courtesies. The petition, however, claims that Trump’s ‘documented misogyny and vulgarity’ disqualifies him from the privilege of being received by royalty.
British PM Theresa May visited the US last week after Trump’s inauguration into the White House, and invited the new head of state over for a state visit to the UK. The petition says that Trump’s visit would be an embarrassment to Her Majesty the Queen and wants the invitation withdrawn.
The petition comes in the wake of the recent changes in immigration policy Trump introduced, with the temporary US ban on refugees from 7 nations.
The British government has however stood by its invitation, with the PM claiming that the US is one of UK’s closest allies and that the offer for the visit still stands.
However, Britons have been reacting very strongly to the invitation. With the petition itself crossing 1.6 million votes over the weekend, May’s office in London’s 10 Downing Street saw protests as people chanted ‘Shame On May’, with anti-Trump placards.
Jeremy Corbyn, Leader of Opposition (Labour Party), said that the Trump’s invitation should be revoked until he revokes the new policies.
Here is how people have reacted to the visit on Twitter in the UK:
There should be no state visit for President Trump until he lifts his immigration ban. https://t.co/O921BLIIvT
— Mayor of London (@MayorofLondon) January 30, 2017
Mass demonstrations against Trump’s Muslim ban start in under an hour at 10 Downing Street in the UK. Nothing like this since 2003 w/ Iraq.
— Brian Klaas (@brianklaas) January 30, 2017
Brexit forcing UK to line up behind Trump & Erdogan rather than Merkel & Hollande. Choosing bullies & bluster over compassion & human rights
— Tom Brake MP (@thomasbrake) January 29, 2017
#Brexit is to the UK what Trump is to the US: toxic & destructive. Trump might take 4 years to stop; Brexit can be stopped right now.
— A C Grayling (@acgrayling) January 29, 2017
People were not above thrashing the May government and mounting personal attacks on the PM herself:
And of course Theresa May only listens to ‘the people’ when ‘the people’ say what she wants to hear. #Trump
— Paul Bernal (@PaulbernalUK) January 30, 2017
Theresa May is weak. Not strong enough to control Brexit so she grovels for trade to Trump & Erdogan. The UK is better than this.
— R C Garrick (@RC_Garrick) January 31, 2017
I know we’re all gripped by Trump’s shenanigans but to be brutally frank, what UK govt is doing to EU nationals is as bad. Trumpesque laws.
— Liz McKinlay (@mckinlay_liz) January 30, 2017
UK must decide whether its special relationship is with Trump or the people he threatens- “it can’t be both” says @patrickharvie pic.twitter.com/45X8TtQjPr
— David Allison (@DavidEastRen) January 30, 2017
So Theresa May is really gonna ban Tyler, the Creator from the UK & not Donald Trump.
— romil (@romilhemnani) January 30, 2017
Apparently, 1.2M votes (and climbing) are insufficient to keep Trump out of UK, but 1.4M votes *are* sufficient to drag UK out of Europe.
— Antonio Cimmino (@cimmino_a) January 30, 2017
In a way, Trump’s actions are good for the UK. They allow MPs a glimpse of how Brexit Britain will look in 2 years time if we trigger A50.
— #Brexit Bin (@BrexitBin) January 30, 2017
When you hear that Donald Trump is coming to the UK pic.twitter.com/HHTpjUj9bn
— Gavin & Stacey React (@GavStaceyReacts) January 30, 2017
This is an actual ‘Pro-Trump” Rally in Cardiff, UK moments ago.
Looks like you’re popular overseas @realDonaldTrump pic.twitter.com/DoR2NXKryO— Impeach Donald Trump (@Impeach_D_Trump) January 30, 2017
