UK Bans Dutch Commentator Over Immigration Views

Is Britain silencing free speech critics, protecting citizens from violence-inciting extremists, or is this part of a bipartisan censorship trend across the West?

Published 13 hours ago

UK Bans Dutch Commentator Over Immigration Views

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Above: Eva Vlaardingerbroek at the first "Remigration Summit" in Gallarate, Italy, on May 17, 2025. Image credit: Emanuele Cremaschi/Getty Images

The Spin

Right narrative

Banning a Dutch commentator for criticizing the prime minister proves the U.K. has completely abandoned free speech and due process. The government revoked her travel authorization without explanation, appeal rights or any legitimate justification just three days after she posted about Starmer's failures on migration and public safety. This authoritarian move confirms Britain is no longer a free country.

Hungarian Conservative

Eva Vlaardingerbroek on X

Left narrative

Britain has the right to bar an extremist who promotes dangerous conspiracy theories and calls for discriminatory mass deportations. This so-called activist has advocated "remigration" and spread replacement theory rhetoric that incites violence. Preventing extremists from entering protects public safety and has nothing to do with legitimate political criticism.

Guardian Politico

Cynical narrative

From Europe to North America and liberal governments to conservative ones, speech-related travel bans have become disturbingly common across the West. The liberal Joe Biden administration banned Ukraine critics, and the conservative Trump administration banned Israel critics — and all them, from the U.S. and Canada to Israel and the U.K., have embedded intelligence operatives inside social media companies. This is a bipartisan, global problem that all Westerners must push back against.

The Political Economist

The Substack Post on Substack