Dutch anti-immigration influencer Eva Vlaardingerbroek appears to have had her UK electronic travel authorisation (ETA) revoked, preventing her from visa-free travel to Britain. Vlaardingerbroek posted a notification from the British government online, stating that her presence in the UK is not considered conducive to the public good.
Vlaardingerbroek, who promotes conspiracy theories such as the 'great replacement,' spoke at a far-right protest in London last year organised by Tommy Robinson. She has also been hosted by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who reposted her tweet and said she is welcome in Hungary.
Immigration experts say the cancellation of an ETA means an individual is ineligible for visa-free travel and must apply for a UK visa before attempting to enter. The Home Office's move may provoke backlash from allies in the US, where figures in the Trump administration have accused Britain of clamping down on free speech.
Former Prime Minister Liz Truss criticised the decision, writing on X that 'people who tell the truth about what’s happening in Britain banned from the country.' Anti-immigration MP Rupert Lowe also questioned the move and called for it to be reversed.
This is not the first time extremists have been banned from the UK. Earlier this month, an Islamist preacher was barred after defending Hamas, and in 2019, anti-Islamic extremist Martin Sellner was permanently banned.
