May in the line of fire

BRITISH Prime Minister Theresa May is facing criticism for her initial response to Donald Trump’s border clampdown, as the UK won an exemption for its citizens from the US president’s restrictions.

Shortly after the prime minister held talks with Trump at the White House on Friday, the new president signed an executive order to suspend refugee arrivals and impose tough new controls on travellers from seven Muslim countries.

Trump’s move prompted an online petition to stop him making a planned state visit to Britain.

By early yesterday, the petition to the British parliament had attracted almost 900 000 signatures.

May sparked controversy on Saturday after refusing to condemn Trump’s immigration clampdown when pressed by journalists during a trip to Turkey, but later issued a stronger statement as it emerged British citizens had been affected.

“Immigration policy in the US is a matter for the government of the US, just the same as immigration policy for this country should be set by our government,” a spokesman from her office said.

“But we do not agree with this kind of approach and it is not one we will be taking,” he said.

Trump’s move prompted protests globally and demonstrators are due to gather outside Downing Street yesterday and hold rallies in cities across Britain. — AFP