London, January 30 (RHC)-- More than million people in Britain have signed a petition urging the UK government to withdraw an invitation for US President Donald Trump to visit London and meet Queen Elizabeth.
The petition to halt Trump’s visit was started in November, months before UK Prime Minister Theresa May visited the White House. During her visit last Friday, May extended the invitation for a state visit to Trump.
But the campaign gained momentum after the new Republican president imposed a 90-day entry ban on citizens from seven Muslim-majority countries. Trump is set to visit Britain later in the year.
So far, the petition has passed one million names. Once a petition passes 100,000 signatures, members of parliament must consider it for debate.
"Donald Trump should be allowed to enter the UK in his capacity as head of the U.S. 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.
British lawmakers from the governing Conservative Party and opposition Labour Party have criticized Trump's action, with Labour Leader Jeremy Corbyn saying the visit should be canceled.
“Donald Trump should not be welcomed to Britain while he abuses our shared values with his shameful Muslim ban and attacks on refugees' and women's rights,” Corbyn told ITV on Sunday.
A source told the BBC that a rejection would be a "populist gesture," adding that the invitation had been accepted and scrapping it would "undo everything."