The UK government has barred a prominent right-wing Dutch activist and commentator from entering the country, citing that her presence is not considered to be in the public interest.
ETA Revoked Following Social Media Attacks
Eva Vlaardingerbroek announced on X that she received an email from the UK government on Thursday 15 January 2026, informing her that her Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) had been withdrawn. A Home Office source confirmed the revocation to The Independent, though did not provide a specific reason.
The email, a screenshot of which was shared by Vlaardingerbroek, stated her entry rights were removed because her "presence in the UK is not considered to be conducive to the public good." The activist described the notification as coming "out of the blue," adding she had no plans to visit the UK until after the local and devolved elections in May.
Link to Criticism of Starmer and Musk Row
The ban comes days after Vlaardingerbroek made a series of online posts attacking Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer. On 9 January, she accused him of allowing "the ongoing rape and killing of British girls by migrant rape gangs." She also criticised his stance in a dispute with Elon Musk.
Starmer has threatened action against the social media platform X over outrage caused by its Grok AI tool, which was used to generate sexually explicit content involving women and children. Vlaardingerbroek sided with Musk, who accused the UK government of acting like "fascists."
"I said that was really rich, given the fact that he has a really bad track record when it comes to fighting the migrant gangs who are raping British girls," Vlaardingerbroek told The Independent, linking her ban directly to this criticism. She concluded by calling Starmer a "despicable, evil man."
Background and Potential Diplomatic Repercussions
Vlaardingerbroek is a controversial figure who rose to prominence by questioning Covid-19 vaccines and lockdowns. She has strong links to the MAGA movement in the US and allies of former President Donald Trump.
Her last visit to the UK was to speak at the 'Unite the Kingdom' rally, an event led by far-right activist Tommy Robinson. Critics have dubbed her "far right" due to her rhetoric on issues like immigration.
This travel ban is poised to exacerbate ongoing tensions around free speech between the UK and the administration of Donald Trump, as Vlaardingerbroek remains a popular figure within those circles. The move coincides with the Starmer government's push for regulator Ofcom to take action against X concerning the Grok AI controversy.
