Pro-Donald Trump state visit petitioner says his 13-year-old daughter drafted it

Unwelcome views should not be 'gagged', says teen's post

Donald Trump speaks in the Hall of Heroes at the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia (Olivier Douliery/EPA)

The man behind a pro-free-speech petition in favour of a Donald Trump state visit to the UK has spoken out for the first time—to say his 13-year-old daughter drafted the document.

Alan Brown, 68, said he disagreed with the more than 1.7 million people who want to block Mr Trump's visit on the grounds it would embarrass the Queen, and who signed a Parliament petition to say so. He wanted to put his own side, he said, but did not know how to go about it.

His teenage daughter offered to step in, he told BBC Radio 5 Live. The rival petition states Mr Trump should be allowed to visit because he is "the leader of a free world and UK is a country that supports free speech". Opposing views should not be "gagged", it says.

The Dover businessman said: "I felt that the opposite point of view should be felt, so it's known that not all of us decry free speech.

"I was having the discussion with my daughter about this and she said, 'Well, if you feel so strongly, why don't you do your own petition?' So I said I wouldn't know how and she said, 'OK, I'll do it for you.'

"So in fact my daughter actually raised the petition."

The petition has now gained more than 200,000 signatures and will be debated on 20 February, alongside the opposing one. Mr Brown said he was "very proud".

He added: "My daughter is over the moon about it. One girl can make a difference."

Mr Trump should be allowed into the country, the opposing petitioners say, but blocked from meeting the Queen.

Prime Minister Theresa May has said she was "very happy" to extend an invitation to Mr Trump to visit the UK on a state visit, despite growing backlash.

She has faced strong opposition to her decision to invite the US President to visit Britain, amid growing criticism of his ban on refugees entering the country.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has suggested Ms May should refuse to allow Mr Trump to enter the UK until he ceases the travel ban.