Petition to ban Donald Trump from UK passes 100,000

A petition calling for Donald Trump to be barred from the UK has passed 100,000 signatories, meaning it must be considered for debate in Parliament.

U.S. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump is leading Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio and Ben Carson in the polls for GOP nominationReuters

The online petition only started yesterday (Tuesday) in response to Trump's call for a temporary halt on Muslims entering the US. However it already has over 130,000 supporters who believe "Donald J Trump should be banned from UK entry."

"The UK has banned entry to many individuals for hate speech," the full text of the petition reads. "The same principles should apply to everyone who wishes to enter the UK.

"If the United Kingdom is to continue applying the 'unacceptable behaviour' criteria to those who wish to enter its borders, it must be fairly applied to the rich as well as poor, and the weak as well as powerful."

Once a petition has 10,000 signatures the government must officially respond and once it has over 100,000 it must be considered for debate in Parliament.

The government has yet to make an official response but Home Secretary Theresa May can exclude an individual if she considers their presence is "not conducive to the public good or if their exclusion is justified on public policy grounds."

Trump, leading candidate for the republican presidential nomination, called for a ban on all Muslims entering the US after a mass shooting in San Bernadino, California.

However his suggestion has been met with widespread outrage and condemnation.

The Pentagon warned Trump's rhetoric harmed national security by boosting ISIS and US Secretary of State John Kerry added by saying the comments were "not constructive" in the fight against IS.

Welsh secretary Stephen Crabb joined fellow cabinet member and mayor of London Boris Johnson as well as the Prime Minister in distancing himself from Trump. Crabb told Christian Today his comments were "ignorant" and "communicated the worst of American values". David Cameron's spokeswoman said he "completely disagrees with Donald Trump."

Johnson said "the only reason I wouldn't go to some parts of New York is the real risk of meeting Donald Trump."

"Donald Trump's ill-informed comments are complete and utter nonsense," he added.

"As a city where more than 300 languages are spoken, London has a proud history of tolerance and diversity and to suggest there are areas where police officers cannot go because of radicalisation is simply ridiculous."