SOUTH Essex MPs say they are in favour of granting US President Donald Trump a state visit following a debate triggered by a petition.

More than one million people have put their names to petition calling for Prime Minister Theresa May to rescind an invitation for Mr Trump to attend a state visit to the UK later this year.

On Monday a cross-party group of MPs debated the issue at Westminster. Amid a protest attended by thousands of people outside Westminster, MPs branded the US President “disgusting” and “immoral”.

The Prime Minister was also criticised for extending the offer to Mr Trump just seven days after he entered the White House, with MPs dismissing it as “an act of desperation.”

However, James Duddridge, Tory MP for Rochford and Southend East said he supported the invitation and that Britain should respect American voters’ decision.

He said: “I think the government is right to use the state visit to develop a special relationship with a democratically elected president.

“He is somebody whose views on race and sex I find quite abhorrent, however, he is a democratically elected leader and we have to deal with him as such. It is not for the British public or politicians to decide who is the President of the US.”

Sir David Amess, Tory MP for Southend West, has also offered his support to Mrs May’s invitation.

He said: “I think the Prime Minister is doing a great job and showing real leadership. At the heart of this matter is the understanding of the word democracy.

“Whilst he might not have been our choice as president for all sorts of reasons, he is the American people’s choice and we would be totally irresponsible if we did not actively engage with him over the next four years. “

Mr Amess added: “The purpose of the visit is to work together to achieve a “safer world”, form stronger educational and cultural links and work on trade opportunities which now have emerged as a result of Brexit.”

Rebecca Harris, Tory MP for Castle Point, described the protests as “seriously naive.”

She said: “Whether or not Donald Trump is to everyone’s personal taste is irrelevant. He is the democratically elected President of our most significant ally.

“Protesting against him being invited on a state visit is seriously naive. In fact, if people are genuinely concerned about his stated policies they should actually welcome Britain maintaining positive relations with the President as by far the best way to influence those policies.

“But where were these protestors when presidents from umpteen other countries, some with far fewer democratic or women’s rights than the US, have visited?”