Nicola Sturgeon has joined growing calls for the UK Government to consider barring under-fire tycoon Donald Trump from the UK.
The first minister’s call echoed that of SNP MP Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh, who has written to Home Secretary Teresa May demanding she “lead by example” over the tycoon’s “Islamophobic and racist” remarks.
A public petition calling for Mr Trump – who is currently campaigning to win the Republican US presidential nomination – has already reached more than 450,000 signatures, making it the most supported in history.
It was expected to reach half a million signatures overnight and will be assessed by the House of Commons petitions committee on January 5.
Ms Sturgeon has already stripped Mr Trump of his status as a GlobalScot business ambassador.
Robert Gordon University has also revoked an honorary degree it bestowed on the businessman.
Mr Trump has been at the centre of a global storm after suggesting there should be a “total and complete shutdown” of Muslims entering the United States.
He also claimed some parts of London had become “so radicilised” that the city’s police force feared for their lives.
Writing in the Press and Journal yesterday, Mr Trump defended his position.
Asked if the first minister supported a ban, her official spokeswoman said: “I think the first minister made her views on Donald Trump quite clear yesterday when she stripped him of his GlobalScot position.
“There are laws around people who make certain comments being allowed in and he should be considered in the same way that they are. The home secretary should consider the issue.”
Despite the mounting criticism over his comments, Mr Trump has received support from media personality Katy Hopkins, who appeared on US television yesterday to defend his remarks.
A counter-petition calling on the UK Government not to ban Mr Trump from the country has also been started and had received more than 20,000 signatures last night.
Petition organiser David Galdwin wrote: “There are proposals to ban Donald Trump from the United Kingdom.
“At least, there’s a petition on the topic. This is totally illogical.
“For starters we shouldn’t be banning people for their opinions on domestic actions in a US political race that doesn’t concern us.
“But more importantly if he does actually win the nomination, and then goes on to win the presidency, we then have to work with a man who we banned from our country in the first place – which totally offsets and upsets relations between two closely bonded countries.
“Leave the decision-making on appropriate responses to the Americans. Let’s mind our own business.”