Actually, let Donald Trump come here

There's a petition doing the rounds at the moment which, at the time of writing, has some 120,000 signatures, close to the threshold at which it will be considered to be debated in Parliament, calling on the Government to ban Donald Trump from entering the UK.

Trump has disgraced himself with his recent call for Muslims to be refused entry to the United States.

I get that people find his views repugnant. So do I. This, however, isn't the first time Trump has said something outrageously prejudiced. It's his stock-in-trade. Earlier this year, the Huffington Post compiled a list of the most offensive things he had said about women - you know, how we're all gold digging, how breastfeeding is disgusting and, basically, just there for decoration.

Much as I understand that people are repelled by his views, there is a certain irony in them responding to his ignorant call to ban a group of people with a call to ban him.

I have less than no time for the man. Hell, he called a friend of mine who had the temerity to question his plans for his golf course a "national disgrace, scoundrel and extremist". However, I was never comfortable with the idea of "no platform" because I think that sweeping prejudice under the carpet doesn't get rid of it. It finds oxygen from somewhere and lurks there, waiting or an opportunity to re-emerge and spread even more intensified hate. When people express views like Trump's, they need to be challenged, satirised and shown up for the nonsense that they are.

I'd love to see the likes of Lynne Featherstone, Shirley Williams, Jo Brand, Tim Farron or his new mate Russell Howard take him down with carefully chosen words. In that way, they can also challenge similar views held by those who aren't quite as rich and powerful as The Donald.

What do you think?

* Caron Lindsay is Editor of Liberal Democrat Voice and blogs at Caron's Musings

Comment by John Marriott - Lincoln Sleaford and North Hykeham