LONDON — A petition to block Donald Trump from entering the UK has exceeded 60,000 signatures, as British politicians and the public line up to denounce the U.S. Republican presidential candidate following his latest incendiary statement.
Over 63,000 people have signed the petition, entitled "Block Donald J Trump from UK entry," since Trump said Muslims should be banned from entering the U.S. If it passes 100,000, the petition will be considered for debate in Parliament.
Prime Minister David Cameron dismissed Trump's comments as "divisive, unhelpful and quite simply wrong" while London Mayor Boris Johnson said they were "complete and utter nonsense."
He also laughed off Trump's suggestion that some parts of London are so radicalised that police fear for their lives.
"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," he said.
Crime has been falling steadily both in London and in New York. said that Trump's comments amount to "hate preaching." The SNP minister said he should be refused entry to the UK.
Author J.K. Rowling has also weighed in, tweeting her dismay at Trump being compared to Harry Potter villain Voldemort. "How horrible," she said. "Voldemort was nowhere near as bad."
According to the heat map on the petition site, a number of the signatories are from the Aberdeen area of Scotland, where Trump has a huge golf course. Another petition, calling for the TV personality to be stripped of an honorary degree from an Aberdeen university, has also received thousands of signatures.
Overnight, #trumpfacts was trending as much of the UK mocked the candidate's comments on Britain becoming radicalised.
Thousands sign up to ban Donald Trump from the UK