London, 16 May 2026 — The United Kingdom has denied entry to at least seven individuals with ties to Europe's far-right, preventing them from attending a rally organized by activist Tommy Robinson in central London. The Home Office revoked their electronic travel authorisations (ETAs), a system introduced earlier this year that allows visa-exempt foreigners to visit the UK multiple times over two years.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said the bans were imposed because the individuals' presence in the UK is "not conducive to the public good." Prime Minister Keir Starmer described them as "far-right agitators" and stressed that the government would not allow people to enter the country to "threaten our communities and spread hate on our streets."
Who Was Barred?
The banned individuals include Polish MEP Dominik Tarczyński, a member of the European Conservatives and Reformists Group known for his anti-immigration rhetoric. Tarczyński has previously stated that Poland should not accept any Muslim immigrants and has criticized multiculturalism as not a value. He vowed to "sue" Starmer personally over the ban, should the prime minister ever leave office.
Dutch political commentator Eva Vlaardingerbroek, who has made inflammatory statements linking migration to violence against women, was notified in January that her ETA had been withdrawn. She has called for "remigration," a term critics describe as a white supremacist policy concept advocating forced removal of immigrants and their descendants.
Catalan activist Ada Lluch, a 26-year-old influencer, was also barred. Lluch has expressed nostalgia for the Franco era and posted on X after the ban: "We want remigration. And we want it now!" Flemish MP Filip Dewinter, who labeled Starmer's government as "communist," and several US-based figures, including commentator Joey Mannarino and MAGA influencer Valentina Gomez, were also denied entry.
Context and Reactions
The rally, called "Unite the Kingdom," is expected to draw tens of thousands of attendees, with the Metropolitan Police warning organizers they will be held responsible if speakers incite hatred. Last year's event saw over 100,000 participants, 25 arrests, and two dozen injured officers. This year, it coincides with a Palestinian Nakba Day demonstration and the FA Cup Final at Wembley Stadium, making it one of the busiest policing days in London in recent years.
Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon and who has multiple criminal convictions, criticized the bans on social media, claiming the government is "banning Americans en masse" while allowing "thousands of invaders" into the country—a reference to immigrants and asylum seekers. He has long spread false claims about migrants and Muslims.
The decision has ignited debate over free speech. Critics argue it stifles legitimate criticism of migration policies, while supporters say it is necessary to prevent hate speech and violence. The concept of "remigration," promoted by several of the banned individuals, has been linked by researchers to the far-right "Great Replacement" theory, which posits that Western civilization is under threat from non-European immigration.
This incident highlights ongoing tensions between national security measures and civil liberties in Europe, as well as the continent's struggle with far-right movements. For more on regional instability, see our coverage of Helsinki Airport Resumes Flights After Drone Alert; Latvia's Government Collapses.
