A greater number of Britons are in favour of Donald Trump’s state visit than oppose it, according to new polling data from YouGov.
When asked whether they thought the visit should go ahead or be cancelled, 49 per cent of British adults were in favour of the visit, compared to just 36 per cent who were against it.
These results come in the context of anti-Trump protests across the UK and a petition against his state visit, which has so far attracted 1.78m signatures on Parliament’s website.
This opposition was fueled by the President’s executive order imposing a 90-day ban on people entering the US from Syria, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen. It also prevents all refugees from entering the US for 120 days.
Indeed, the YouGov poll found that 50 per cent of British adults thought that Trump’s immigration ban was a bad idea, compared to 29 per cent who said it was a good idea.
The poll also asked repondents whether they would be happy for a similar ban on refugees and immigrants entering the UK. 49 per cent of British adults said they would be disappointed were Theresa May to adopt a similar policy, while 27 per cent said they would be pleased.
Despite more Britons disagreeing with Trump’s immigration policy than agreeing with it, almost half the population think his state visit to the UK should go ahead according to YouGov.
In addition to this, a rival petition to the one seeking to prevent Trump’s state visit has been started on Parliament’s website, attracting more than 200,000 signatures in a few days. Both petitions will now be debated in the Commons.
Within the headline figure of 49 per cent there were some key splits among the population.