UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Monday that his government will block foreign speakers from entering the UK ahead of a major Tommy Robinson-led rally in London this weekend, with officials already reportedly denying entry to seven individuals.
The move comes before the Unite the Kingdom demonstration, expected to draw more than 100,000 people to central London on Saturday. Police said they will maintain a presence at the event.
In remarks delivered Monday, Starmer described the rally as a threat to public order and said the government would stop outside participants it considers disruptive from entering the country.
“That is why this Labour Government will block far-right agitators from travelling to Britain,” Starmer said. “We will not allow people to come to the UK, threaten our communities and spread hate on our streets.”
Government officials have reportedly already used immigration powers to bar seven individuals from attending the event. Under UK law, the Home Secretary can revoke or deny permission to enter or remain in the country if a person’s presence is deemed not conducive to the public good. US political commentator Joey Mannarino said last week he had been blocked from entering the UK after being informed his presence would not be considered in the public interest.
The same rationale has previously been cited in other cases, including the ban on rapper Kanye West.
Last month, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood also blocked US influencer Valentina Gomez from entering the UK ahead of the demonstration. Gomez had been listed as a speaker at the event and previously attended the group’s September protest. Gomez became known online for including for burning a copy of the Quran.
Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley previously said authorities were “concerned” by the expected size of Saturday’s gatherings. He added police were “looking hard at what conditions and powers we should use.”
The move comes before the Unite the Kingdom demonstration, expected to draw more than 100,000 people to central London on Saturday. Police said they will maintain a presence at the event.
In remarks delivered Monday, Starmer described the rally as a threat to public order and said the government would stop outside participants it considers disruptive from entering the country.
“That is why this Labour Government will block far-right agitators from travelling to Britain,” Starmer said. “We will not allow people to come to the UK, threaten our communities and spread hate on our streets.”
Government officials have reportedly already used immigration powers to bar seven individuals from attending the event. Under UK law, the Home Secretary can revoke or deny permission to enter or remain in the country if a person’s presence is deemed not conducive to the public good. US political commentator Joey Mannarino said last week he had been blocked from entering the UK after being informed his presence would not be considered in the public interest.
The same rationale has previously been cited in other cases, including the ban on rapper Kanye West.
Last month, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood also blocked US influencer Valentina Gomez from entering the UK ahead of the demonstration. Gomez had been listed as a speaker at the event and previously attended the group’s September protest. Gomez became known online for including for burning a copy of the Quran.
Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley previously said authorities were “concerned” by the expected size of Saturday’s gatherings. He added police were “looking hard at what conditions and powers we should use.”
