MPs wrapped up a three-hour debate on whether to ban Donald Trump from the UK, after the US presidential hopeful said last year that Muslims should not be allowed to enter the United States.

The debate at Westminster Hall, led by Labour's Paul Flynn, is the result of a petition signed by more than 570,000 people asking the UK Government to exclude the billionaire from the country, noting action against "hate speech" must take place regardless of a person's wealth or power.

Flynn warned that today's event might be interpreted by Trump and others in America as showing disrespect for the American nation as a whole, and could boost support for the Republican presidential candidate by giving him a "halo" of martyrdom.

"Stupidity" should not be a reason to ban one from entering the country, said Conservative MP Paul Scully, while Labour's Tulip Siddiq said she failed to see the funny side of Trump’s comments.

Conservative MP Victoria Atkins said that while her constituents would call Trump a "wazzock", Britons should still have confidence in the country's values and defend free speech.

Mr Trump provoked widespread anger after he demanded a block on Muslims entering the US and claimed parts of London were "so radicalised" that police were "afraid for their own lives".

The debate has been condemned as "absurd by one of Trump's senior employees in Scotland, and the tycoon has threatened to pull out of future UK investment worth around £700m if MPs ban him from the country.

SNP's Corrie Wilson, whose constituency includes a golf resort owned by Trump, called the billionaire a "showman" but warned it would be "catastrophic" for the area if he pulled out of Scotland.