Donald Trump: US presidential hopeful threatens to withdraw £700m of UK investment

US presidential hopeful Donald Trump has threatened to pull the plug on £700m of investment in the UK if MPs block his entry into the country. Trump owns two golf courses in Scotland including the Turnberry golf course in South Ayrshire and the Trump International Golf Links which is near Aberdeen.

The property tycoon says that he is considering investing £200m at Turnberry and an extra £500m at the Aberdeenshire course and this money would be put in jeopardy if MPs decide against allowing him in the UK after a debate on January 18.

The American billionaire angered many in the UK when he claimed there are parts of London that police are afraid to go to for fear of Muslim extremists and for his call to ban Muslims entering the US. Over 560,000 people have signed an online petition calling on the Republican frontrunner to be barred from entering the UK, which has triggered a debate in the Commons.

The debate will be held at the Commons' secondary debating chamber and instead of a vote at the end, the decision will be left to Home Secretary Theresa May. The SNP's Nicola Sturgeon said last month that Trump should be prohibited from entering the UK.

According to the BBC, the Trump Organisation said: "Westminster would create a dangerous precedent and send a terrible message to the world that the United Kingdom opposes free speech and has no interest in attracting inward investment.

"This would also alienate the many millions of United States citizens who wholeheartedly support Mr Trump and have made him the forerunner by far in the 2016 presidential election. Many people now agree with Mr Trump that there is a serious problem that must be resolved. This can only be achieved if we are willing discuss these tough issues openly and honestly."

A Home Office statement said: "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. The Home Secretary has said that coming to the UK is a privilege and not a right and she will continue to use the powers available to prevent from entering the UK those who seek to harm our society and who do not share our basic values."