UK Pollies Spent Three Hours Mocking Donald Trump (Oh, And Debating His Potential Ban From The Country)

How did you spend your Monday?

Probably not as enjoyably as the members of UK Parliament, who began their week listing all the reasons Donald Trump shouldn’t be allowed into the United Kingdom, making countless jokes at his expense and throwing shade with such velocity it would have blown his hair back (if it can indeed make such a movement). Mashable was on the scene.

Donald Trump has been labelled a "buffoon," an "idiot" and a "wazzock" during this debate. https://t.co/B38VXmITq6 pic.twitter.com/83611bwdRS

— Mashable UK (@MashableUK) January 18, 2016

The three hour parliamentary session was inspired by a petition – entitled ‘Block Donald J Trump from UK entry’ – addressed to UK Government and Parliament. It so far has more than 576,000 signatures.

A counter petition has about 43,000 signatures.

Marcus Fysh MP also can't resist a Trump gag during the debate. pic.twitter.com/yinZ0wy0Ln

— Mashable UK (@MashableUK) January 18, 2016

Though most of the pollies seemed to be in agreement that Trump was a “buffoon” and “ridiculous individual” (their words), the debate was still a heated one.

While many MPs argued his recent statements about banning Muslims from the US incite racial hatred, others defended his freedom of speech, suggesting they could even take the opportunity of Trump’s visit to introduce him to British Muslims.

Tulip Siddiq on #Trump during Westminster Hall debate. pic.twitter.com/KST1vWmrVU

— Mashable UK (@MashableUK) January 18, 2016

It’s unlikely that the UK will ban Trump, the presumptive nominee for the Republican Party at the coming American presidential election, no matter how many names wind up on that petition or how angrily English politicians argue. The call will be made by Home Secretary Theresa May. Would she really want to threaten the ‘Special Relationship’ between the US and the UK?

Prime Minister David Cameron has publicly disagreed with the ban, despite saying Trump’s comments were “stupid and wrong.”

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has also said Trump has “weird and frankly off the wall views” but did not support a ban.

Those arguing against Trump’s presence in the UK shouldn’t put this session in the ‘L’ column however. They managed to get a three-hour slam session of Donald Trump on Hansard, and that’s truly something.