Thousands Sign Competition “Donald Trump must be ban in UK”

Mr Trump's comments that Muslim should be ban from entering the US were designed to capitalise on a shooting by a radicalised couple in San Bernardino, California, that killed fourteen people.

Instead it has drawn condemnation both at home and abroad.

Tens of thousands of people have signed a petition calling for presidential hopeful Donald Trump to be banned from entering the UK.

It follows the Republican frontrunner's call for a "total and complete shut-down of Muslims entering the United States until our country's representatives can figure out what is going on".

In the UK, almost 30,000 people have signed a petition calling on MPs to impose a bar on Mr Trump.

"The UK has banned entry to many individuals for hate speech," the petition reads. "The same principles should apply to everyone who wishes to enter the UK.

"If the United Kingdom is to continue applying the 'unacceptable behaviour' criteria to those who wish to enter its borders, it must be fairly applied to the rich as well as poor, and the weak as well as powerful."

If the petition reaches 100,000 signatures it could be debated in the Commons.

Across the Atlantic, the White House launched a rare attack on a presidential candidate as spokesman Josh Earnest called the proposal unconstitutional.

"What Donald Trump said disqualifies him from serving as president," said Mr Earnest, describing the remarks as "offensive" and "toxic".

Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton said the billionaire's comments aided terrorists.

"It's a shameful idea. It's also dangerous," she said.

"At a time when America should be doing everything we can to fight radical jihadists, Mr Trump is supplying them with new propaganda."