But a debate among lawmakers on calls to ban Trump from the country revealed little appetite to close Britain’s doors to the provocative Republican U.S. presidential contender.

The British Parliament began debate Monday on the grave question of whether to ban future American president Donald Trump from the shores of their island nation.

Any petition that attracts more than 100,000 signatories is considered by British MPs for a debate.

The debate was led by Labor member Paul Flynn, chairman of the Petitions Committee, who said there was a risk that banning Trump would give him a "halo of victimhood" that would only play into his hands.

"It is absurd that valuable parliamentary time is being wasted debating a matter raised as part of the American presidential election", Malone said.

"Any attempt at a ban of this kind would force Mr Trump to abandon his plans for a further £700 million investment", said a representative of Trump International Golf Links in a statement.

Some disagreed with the need to ban Trump - but not because they particularly like the guy.

Ms Shah added: "In my Islam and the ground I understand, in Surah [Chapter] 41 and verse 34 it teaches that goodness is better than evil".

Conservative Paul Scully said that while people had been excluded from Britain for incitement or hatred, "I have never heard of one for stupidity and I'm not sure we should be starting now".

It says that Mr. Trump's proposal to bar Muslim immigrants from entering the United States amounts to "hate speech".

"I made a decision to invite Donald Trump on his visit to Britain to come with me to my constituency because he has problems with Mexicans and he has problems with Muslims", he told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show on Sunday.

"These are very inflammatory times that we're living in", she said.

There have also been harsh words between Trump and member of Parliament Alex Salmond, former leader of the Scottish National Party.

Mr. Flynn said Parliament had to hold the debate after pressure from the public helped push the petition, but he urged fellow lawmakers to shy away from actually going ahead with the ban.

Other MPs called Trump a demagogue and a fool, but the majority rejected the idea of censoring him by forbidding him entry into the country. And ultimately, buffoonery should not be met with the blunt instrument of a ban, but with the classic British response of ridicule.

"I think if he came to visit our country, he would unite us all against him", he said earlier.

Despite the division over the ban, MPs were united in condemning Trump. "I think I'd challenge him".

Conservative Victoria Atkins labelled Mr Trump a "wazzock" as she spoke against a ban.

British Home Secretary Theresa May already has the power to ban certain visitors - including those deemed nonconducive to the public good for reasons such as a record of hate speech - but such a move would appear highly unlikely.