Debate in UK Parliament today to ban Trump for Hate Speech

Donald Trump is an unpopular man, and nearly 573,000 Britons at last counting dislike him so much that they petitioned to have him banned from the United Kingdom under the terms of the nation’s immigration policy, which permits the country to block the entry of people who engage in “unacceptable behavior.” Like, for example, hate speech, which is what many Trump critics say is a hallmark of his campaign.

The government responded to the petition to indicate that: “For good reasons the Government does not routinely comment on individual immigration and exclusion decisions. The Home Secretary may exclude a non-European Economic Area national from the U.K. if she considers their presence in the U.K. to be non-conducive to the public good.”

However, now that the number of petitioners has crossed the 100,000 threshold, it’s tripped a trigger that can’t be taken back: The petition must be considered for parliamentary discussion, and it will in fact be debated in parliament, alongside a rival petition to oppose the ban. Audiences can even watch the proceedings live online on January 18.

Britain and the European Union have laws about free speech that are very different from those in the United States. While freedom of expression is valued, not all speech is protected, and hate speech can be (and is) banned or otherwise regulated.

The Home Secretary is the one with final authority to make any such determination, though the Prime Minister has spoken out on the issue, clearly indicating that he condemns Trump’s comments.

Chairwoman Helen Jones, who will be overseeing the debate, stresses that the Members of Parliament cannot reach a final decision or cast a binding vote, as these powers lie in the hands of the Home Secretary.

If he is banned, it could raise some interesting issues, aside from potential problems with his real estate interests in regions like Scotland. Barring people on the grounds of hate speech might sound quaint — and for some U.S. liberals perhaps even an example of just desserts — but it could also set a dangerous precedent.

Other countries have refused entry to people on the grounds that they’re too liberal, or are promoting anti-government thinking that might take down totalitarian dictatorships or cause people to question abusive leaders. Immigration bans like these go both ways, preventing haters and hated alike, and for that reason, it may be best to let sleeping Trumps lie.

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