UK Parliament set to Debate Banning Donald Trump for Hate Speech

British lawmakers will respond to a petition calling for a ban on Donald Trump very soon. They will also be discussing a petition demanding that Trump does not get barred from entering the country.

The initial petition, which was started on the government's website after Trump made a comment about temporarily banning Muslims from entering the United States due to recent terror attacks, has received more than 570,000 signatures. Parliament debates on all petitions on its site that have gotten more than 100,000 signatures.

The petition argues that Trump, the U.S. Republican Presidential frontrunner, should be banned for "hate speech." It also points out the fact that since the country has previously banned people for similar reasons, "the same principles should apply to everyone who wishes to enter the UK."

The debate "will allow a range of views to be expressed," chairwoman Helen Jones said reported by the Washington Post. It will not, however, lead to any law-binding votes.

Although the government has not commented about the petition to ban Trump, it did release a statement last week reminding the public that Home Secretary Theresa May does have the power to "exclude a non-European Economic Area national from the UK if she considers their presence in the UK to be non-conducive to the public good."

The statement stated, reported by CNN, "The Home Secretary has said that coming to the UK is a privilege and not a right. She will continue to use the powers available to prevent from entering the UK those who seek to harm our society and who do not share our basic values."

The Trump Organization did respond to the petition. It released this statement:

"Any action to restrict travel would force The Trump Organization to immediately end these and all future investments we are currently contemplating in the United Kingdom. Westminster would send a terrible message to the world that the United Kingdom opposes free speech and has no interest in attracting inward investment.

This would also alienate the many millions of United States citizens who wholeheartedly support Mr. Trump and have made him the forerunner by far in the 2016 presidential election. Many people now agree with Mr. Trump that there is a serious problem that must be resolved. This can only be achieved if we are willing to discuss these tough issues openly and honestly."

The debate will be held in Westminster Hall on January 18.