Calls to ban Donald Trump from Britain if the US Senate upholds his impeachment were yesterday backed by Scottish Justice Minister Humza Yousaf.
He said “serious consideration” must be given to denying the former US president entry if he is hit with the UK exclusion order normally issued against suspected terrorists, hate preachers and criminals.
Trump faces an impeachment trial in the Senate next month on a charge of inciting the mob who stormed Washington’s Capitol Hill on January 6.
Now the SNP and Labour want Home Secretary Priti Patel to rule on whether his presence here would be “conducive to the public good”.
Yousaf said: “The Home Secretary should give serious consideration to denying him entry. Trump’s default is to stir up racial tension.”
Labour MP Grahame Morris, a former shadow communities secretary, said: “Trump’s presidency will forever be linked to the deadly armed insurrection against the democratic institutions of the United States.
"If convicted, the Government should recognise the magnitude of his crimes and ban him from entering the UK.”
The ex-president left the White House in disgrace on Wednesday – flying to Florida in a tantrum without attending Joe Biden’s inauguration.
He hoped to spend the day at Turnberry in Ayrshire, one of his two Scottish golf resorts along with Menie in Aberdeenshire, but was barred from jetting in due to Covid rules.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: “Coming in to play golf is not what I would consider to be an essential purpose.”
Five people, including a police officer, died when Trump supporters stormed Capitol Hill.
He had urged them to protest against Biden’s election victory by tweeting 88million followers: “Get smart Republicans. FIGHT!” He is now banned from Twitter.
The Government has refused to say if he will be barred from entering the UK. Immigration minister Kevin Foster said: “The Home Office does not comment on individual cases.”
