Iain Duncan Smith has appeared to back Donald Trump – describing him as “a very decent man”.

The former work and pensions secretary said that “serious politicians” in the US had supported Mr Trump and quoted representative Paul Ryan praising the billionaire business owner.

“There are some very serious politicians, Paul Ryan, he said categorically: that he [Trump] is a very decent man,” Mr Duncan Smith told LBC radio.

Asked whether he would vote for Mr Trump or Hillary Clinton Mr Duncan Smith said he didn’t have a vote, and that he would not vote for Ms Clinton.

“I don’t have a vote, certainly – but I wouldn’t be voting for Clinton, that’s for sure. With her record on emails and her record on the state department,” he explained.

The statement from the Tory MP and Leave campaigner comes as David Cameron this morning said he would try to work with Mr Trump if he won office.

There were calls to ban the presumptive Republican Party nominee from Britain after he announced a policy of banning all Muslims from entering the United States.

Donald Trump's most controversial quotes Show all 14 1 /14 Donald Trump's most controversial quotes Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On Isis: "Some of the candidates, they went in and didn’t know the air conditioner didn’t work and sweated like dogs, and they didn’t know the room was too big because they didn’t have anybody there. How are they going to beat ISIS?" Getty Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On immigration: "I will build a great wall — and nobody builds walls better than me, believe me —and I’ll build them very inexpensively. I will build a great, great wall on our southern border, and I will make Mexico pay for that wall. Mark my words." Reuters Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On Free Trade: "Free trade is terrible. Free trade can be wonderful if you have smart people. But we have stupid people." PAUL J. RICHARDS | AFP | Getty Images Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On Mexicans: "When Mexico sends its people, they’re not sending their best. They’re sending people that have lots of problems. They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists." Getty Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On China: "I just sold an apartment for $15 million to somebody from China. Am I supposed to dislike them?... I love China. The biggest bank in the world is from China. You know where their United States headquarters is located? In this building, in Trump Tower." Getty Images Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On work: "If you're interested in 'balancing' work and pleasure, stop trying to balance them. Instead make your work more pleasurable." AP Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On success: "What separates the winners from the losers is how a person reacts to each new twist of fate." Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On life: "Everything in life is luck." AFP Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On ambition: "You have to think anyway, so why not think big?" Getty Images Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On his opponents: "Bush is totally in favour of Common Core. I don't see how he can possibly get the nomination. He's weak on immigration. He's in favour of Common Core. How the hell can you vote for this guy? You just can't do it." Reuters Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On Obamacare: "You have to be hit by a tractor, literally, a tractor, to use it, because the deductibles are so high. It's virtually useless. And remember the $5 billion web site?... I have so many web sites, I have them all over the place. I hire people, they do a web site. It costs me $3." Getty Images Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On Barack Obama: "Obama is going to be out playing golf. He might be on one of my courses. I would invite him. I have the best courses in the world. I have one right next to the White House." PA Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On himself: "Love him or hate him, Trump is a man who is certain about what he wants and sets out to get it, no holds barred. Women find his power almost as much of a turn-on as his money." Getty Images Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On America: "The American Dream is dead. But if I get elected president I will bring it back bigger and better and stronger than ever before and we will make America great again." GETTY

MPs debated the issue after a petition was signed by over 100,000 people; it has now been endorsed by over half a million voters.

He has also pledged to force Mexico to build a giant wall on its border with the United States to stop Mexicans from entering US territory without permission.

The business mogul is set to visit Britain later this month to open a golf course he owns in Scotland.

His visit will come the day before the European Union referendum; it is not clear whether he will officially meet the Prime Minister or other leading politicians.