An online citizen's petition to block Donald Trump from UK entry for hate speech has gained over half a million signatures and has led to a debate today in Parliament. Yes, starting at 11:30AM EST in Westminster Hall, members of Parliament will actually be discussing the possibility of preventing one of the leading American Republican presidential candidates from even entering America's closest ally. Crazy World.

Home Secretary Teresa May released a statement that appears to allow at least the possibility of barring Trump: “The Home Secretary may exclude a non-European Economic Area national from the UK if she considers their presence in the UK to be non-conducive to the public good.” Interesting note: if anything actually came from today's debate--Nothing will. They're not even holding a vote after. It's basically theatre--Trump wouldn't even be able to play on that golf course he owns in Scotland. But it's expected to get pretty ugly, at least by British standards. Parliamentary privilege legally shields speakers from accusations of defamation or slander. Things will certainly be said.

This, of course, is all primarily in response to Trump's call to ban Muslims from entering the United States and his claim that parts of London are so radicalized that "police are afraid for their own lives." Prime Minister David Cameron called these comments "divisive" and "stupid" in December. But Cameron has also pretty much dismissed the idea of a ban, stating that a visit from Trump would "unite us all against him."

If you want to check in, you can see the whole thing live below or at parliamentlive.tv.

Source: CNN