Ban Donald Trump from the UK petition reaches 500,000 signatures making it 'most popular EVER'

A petition to ban Donald Trump from Britain has soared over 500,000 signatures - making it what is thought to be the most popular ever.

More than half a million people have signed the petition, which was launched after the US presidential hopeful called for all Muslims to be barred from entering America.

It says the “unacceptable behaviour” criteria used to stop hate preachers entering Britain “must be fairly applied to the rich as well as poor, and the weak as well as powerful”.

Smashing the 500,000 threshold means the demand will be considered for a Commons debate.

But Chancellor George Osborne says the former US Apprentice star will NOT be banned from Britain despite his comments.

The Chancellor attacked the White House hopeful’s “nonsense” remarks - branding him “profoundly wrong”.“I think the best way to defeat nonsense like this is to engage in robust, democratic debate and make it very clear that his views are not welcome,” he said.

“That is the best way to deal with Donald Trump and his views, rather than try to ban presidential candidates.”

Trumps comments saw the White House launch an unprecedented attack on the Republican front runner.“I think the best way to defeat nonsense like this is to engage in robust, democratic debate and make it very clear that his views are not welcome,” he said.

Later, Trump sat down for a hastily arranged sit-down ABC News interview in American with his long-time personal friend Barbara Walters to deny he was a bigot and claimed all the Muslims he knows agree with his ‘common sense’ immigration stance.

Asked by the famed US journalist if he thought his controversial immigration policy played directly into the hands of jihadists who want to divide and conquer, Trump said he was “the worst thing to ever happen to ISIS”.

The growing anger toward Mr Trump led him to be stripped of his status as a Scotland business ambassador by First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon.

The billionaire had been a member since 2006.A Scottish government spokeswoman said: “Mr Trump’s recent remarks have shown that he is no longer fit to be a business ambassador for Scotland and the First Minister has decided his membership of the respected GlobalScot business network should be withdrawn with immediate effect.”