Donald Trump: Residents among lowest number to sign petition against state visit

More than 1.7 million people have signed a petition asking the Government to reconsider its decision to invite the US President to Britain.

It comes after his clampdown on immigration prompted widespread outrage across the country. But the petition has not seen a huge take up in some areas of the West Midlands, with parts of Wolverhampton, Sandwell, Walsall and Staffordshire seeing less than one per cent of the population signing up.

In Walsall North just 714 people signed the petition, 0.74 per cent of its population. The constituency MP David Winnick has been among the most vociferous politicians in calling for a rethink on Mr Trump's visit, and claimed the US President should never have been offered a state visit in the first place.

It was a similar story in Pat McFadden's Wolverhampton South East constituency, where 705 people have signed the petition out of a population of 90,610 (0.78 per cent).

Mr McFadden has branded the decision to offer Mr Trump a state visit as 'a mistake' and criticised his travel ban for punishing innocent people.

Tory Councillor Paul Singh, who represents Penn on Wolverhampton council, said he had not signed the petition.

He said attempting to stop Mr Trump from making a trade visit could be dangerous in light of the Prime Minister's attempts to negotiate a transatlantic trade deal.

"People have to ask what good it would do by stopping him from coming here," Mr Singh said. We clearly need a dialogue with the US President and it is unlikely he would look at the UK in a positive light if we ban him from coming here. This petition strikes me as a knee-jerk reaction at a time when considered thought is required."

In West Bromwich West 0.87 per cent of 93,287 people signed the petition (813 people).

The constituency's Labour MP, Adrian Bailey, has hit out at Mr Trump's ban for contravening the Geneva Convention and called for the Government to 'send out a strong message' by postponing his visit.

Emma Reynolds Wolverhampton North East constituency also saw less than one per cent of the population signing the petition. A total of 784 people out of 89,495 (0.88 per cent) signed. She has criticised Mr Trump for stirring up religious tension and says he should not be welcomed to Britain until he reverses his order.

Cannock Chase has seen just 909 people sign up, 0.92 per cent of 98,549.

In Stourbridge 1,454 people out of a population of 89,862 (1.62 per cent) signed the petition.

They included Dudley Council leader Councillor Pete Lowe, who said: "I think we need to take a stand when individuals are coming out with divisive policies that will have an impact on citizens."

The Lye and Stourbridge North councillor said he 'very proudly signed the petition, shared the petition and encouraged other people to do the same'.

He added: "If the state visit goes ahead and there's an opportunity to make my opinion heard I'd certainly undertake my democratic right to do so."

The highest proportion of signatures in the Black Country and Staffordshire came in Wolverhampton South West.

Labour MP Rob Marris's constituency saw 1,671 people sign the petition, 1.96 per cent of a population of 85,238.

Mr Marris called the US immigration crackdown 'insulting' and said Mr Trump should be allowed to enter the UK, but not on a state visit.

In Tory MP Jeremy Lefroy's Stafford constituency 1,838 people signed the petition (1.91 per cent). Nationally Bristol West, 11,820 (9.08 per cent); Brighton Pavilion, 10,028 (9.28 per cent) and Hackney North and Stoke Newington, 11,159 (8.18 per cent) have seen the biggest support for preventing Mr Trump's state visit.

MPs will debate the petition in Westminster Hall on February 20, although there will be no vote. Meanwhile, a rival petition in support of Mr Trump's visit has surged past the 100,000 mark, meaning Parliament will consider it for a debate. It was launched yesterday morning and says simply: "Donald Trump should make a State Visit to the United Kingdom."

Mr Trump's immigration crackdown sparked protests across the globe.