The leader of Dudley Council has signed a petition calling for US President Donald Trump to be banned from making a UK state visit.

Labour councillor, Pete Lowe, said:

“I think we need to take a stand when individuals are coming out with divisive policies that will have an impact on citizens.

“If the state visit goes ahead and there’s an opportunity to make my opinion heard I’d certainly undertake my democratic right to do so.”

The Lye and Stourbridge North councillor said he 'very proudly' signed and shared the petition and encouraged other people to do the same. He is among more than 1,000 people in Stourbridge who have signed the 1 million plus name petition, which has also been signed by more than 600 in the Dudley South constituency, more than 700 in Dudley North and more than 900 in Halesowen and Rowley Regis. 

As well as putting in place a 90-day visa suspension for people arriving in the US from Iraq, Syria, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen – President Trump’s executive order also suspends the US Refugee Admissions Programme for 120 days and includes an indefinite ban on Syrian refugees.

Mr Trump, however, has stressed on his Facebook page that it is not a Muslim ban. He said: "This is not about religion - this is about terror and keeping our country safe."