NEWPORT MP Paul Flynn is to lead a Parliamentary debate on a petition to ban billionaire and Republican US Presidential candidate Donald Trump from the UK today, Monday.

The petition to bar the Republican Presidential hopeful – a controversial figure among many for his anti-immigration views and brash persona – from the country attracted more than 573,000 signatures, meaning it has to be debated in Parliament.

Long-serving Labour MP for Newport West Paul Flynn will lead the debate, which is due to start at 4.30pm and will be streamed live at parliamentlive.tv.

The petition was launched following comments by the former presenter of the American version of The Apprentice that all Muslims should be banned from entering the USA in a backlash to potential terrorist action. He has also controversially called for a wall running along the US-Mexico border, claiming Mexicans seeking work in America were “rapists”.

Last week Mr Flynn tweeted: “Mega interest in Trump. His views are loathsome but why garland him with accolade of victimhood that could advance his ambitions?”

The Labour MP has also previously said he hoped Mr Trump would come to Newport so he could see people of different religions living peacefully side-by-side.

David Cameron has said he “completely disagrees” with Mr Trump’s comments and Home Secretary Theresa May called his views on Muslims “divisive, unhelpful and wrong”.

In an official response to the petition, a UK Government spokesman said Home Secretary Theresa May had the power to ban non-EU residents from the UK if their presence was believed to be “non-conductive to the public good”.