Almost one in three Britons would support a temporary ban on Muslims entering the UK, similar to that proposed by US presidential candidate Donald Trump, a new Sky Data poll reveals.
Some 29% of the public would back such a ban on Muslims who are not citizens of the UK coming into the country. The majority of Britons (51%) would oppose such a move, however, with 43% strongly opposing.
It comes after Mr Trump called for a "total and complete shutdown of the Muslims entering the United States" in the wake of the mass shooting in San Bernardino, California and deadly terror attack in Paris.
American security has become a key talking point on the campaign trail for those looking to succeed President Barack Obama in 2016.
The Republican hopeful said in a statement: "Until we are able to determine and understand this problem and the dangerous threat it poses, our country cannot be the victims of horrendous attacks by people that believe only in Jihad, and have no sense of reason or respect for human life."
Natalie McGarry with former leader Alex Salmond
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Video: Donald Trump 'Three Times A Loser'
The survey also found two in three of those who voted UKIP in May (67%) would support a temporary ban on Muslims entering the UK.
UKIP leader Nigel Farage has criticised Mr Trump’s remarks as a "massively over the top reaction to a serious situation", but also suggested the subsequent public outcry has been equally excessive.
Older people are also more sympathetic to Mr Trump’s proposal being realised in the UK - just 38% of those aged 55 or over would oppose such a ban, with 35% in favour.
Similarly, 32% of Britons agree that given the terrorist threat the UK faces, Mr Trump’s proposals should be "seriously considered" by British politicians, with 52% disagreeing.
Earlier, Mr Trump was engaged in a war of words with Scottish National Party foreign spokesman Alex Salmond, who deemed the Republican frontrunner "three times a loser" after the Trump Organisation lost its court battle over the wind turbines being built near his golf course.
Donald Trump
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Video: 8 Dec: Trump Calls For Muslim Ban
Mr Salmond had previously branded the Republican frontrunner’s remarks as "hate preaching" and "bigotry", and revealed he has signed a petition to ban him from entering the UK on grounds of hate speech.
The petition to ban Mr Trump from the UK has gained over 500,000 signatures. Calls to ban Mr Trump were rejected by David Cameron at PMQs, although he described his remarks as "divisive, stupid and wrong".
The public are divided as to whether to ban Mr Trump on grounds of hate speech. Three in ten (31%) support banning him, while 37% agree with the Prime Minister that he should not be banned.
This comes despite six in ten Britons (57%) saying Mr Trump’s proposals are intended to "stir up racial hatred", with just 25% disagreeing.
Such a definition could see Mr Trump in contravention of British hate speech legislation. The Public Order Act 1986 states that:
U.S. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks at the Republican Party of Florida's Sunshine Summit in Orlando, Florida.
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Video: 8 Dec: Trump On London And Muslims
"A person who uses threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour, or displays any written material which is threatening, abusive or insulting, is guilty of an offence if:
(a) he intends thereby to stir up racial hatred, or
(b) having regard to all the circumstances racial hatred is likely to be stirred up thereby."
Sky Data interviewed a nationally representative sample of 1,021 Sky customers online 11-16 December 2015. Data weighted to match the profile of the population.