MP hits back at Katie Hopkins over '˜vegan lesbians of Brighton' comments

MP Caroline Lucas hit back at Katie Hopkins over her 'vegan lesbians of Brighton' comments

Two petitions, one opposing and one backing a state visit to the UK by newly-elected American President Donald Trump, were debated by MPs in Parliament’s Westminster Hall yesterday (Monday February 20.

In the debate, Caroline Lucas, Green MP for Brighton Pavilion, explained that a higher percentage of her constituents signed the first petition than anywhere else in the country.

She said: “Many of them have raised not only Trump’s misogyny and racism but his contempt for basic climate science.

“Does the honourable gentleman agree that someone who has shown such effrontery to basic climate science is another reason he should not come here on a state visit?”

In her latest MailOnline column, Katie Hopkins, a contestant in Lord Alan Sugar’s TV competition The Apprentice, said: “Happily, Caroline Lucas was on hand to speak for Vegan Matters and the lesbians of Brighton.

“She wished to deny Trump a visit to the UK because of his denial of basic climate science. I suspect she is also cross he loves a good cheeseburger, but she didn’t have time to vocalise this important political point.”

Ms Hopkins then tweeted: “Caroline Lucas spoke for vegan lesbians of Brighton hoping to deny Trump a state visit because he likes burgers”

The crowds outside Brighton Town Hall demonstrating against Donald Trump's 'muslim ban'

Ms Lucas responded: “Lesbians. Vegans. Bi people. Gay people. Trans people. People of colour + everyone else! It’s Modern Britain @KTHopkins, get over it.”

More than 1.8m people have signed the petition opposing a state visit by Mr Trump, with more than ten per cent of the 108,000 constituents living in Brighton Pavilion putting their name to it.

According to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office: “HM Government recognises the strong views expressed by the many signatories of this petition, but does not support this petition.

“During her visit to the United States on 27 January 2017, the Prime Minister, on behalf of Her Majesty the Queen, invited President Trump for a state visit to the UK later this year.

“The invitation was accepted. This invitation reflects the importance of the relationship between the United States of America and the United Kingdom. At this stage, final dates have not yet been agreed for the state visit.”

More than 300,000 people signed the counter-petition supporting a state visit.

Last month thousands of people marched through Brighton to protest against Mr Trump’s travel ban on passengers from seven countries with predominantly Muslim populations.