The UK Home Office has banned a prominent Dutch far-right activist and online influencer from entering the country, citing that her presence is not in the public interest.
ETA Revoked for 'Public Good'
Eva Vlaardingerbroek posted an image online this week showing a notification that her UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) had been cancelled. The official communication stated clearly: "Your presence in the UK is not considered to be conducive to the public good."
Vlaardingerbroek is known for promoting anti-immigration rhetoric and conspiracy theories online, including the 'great replacement' theory. She recently described the British Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, as an "evil, despicable man."
International Reactions and Far-Right Links
The decision has drawn reactions from high-profile figures on the right. Viktor Orbán, the Prime Minister of Hungary, reposted Vlaardingerbroek's announcement on his X account, telling her: "You're always welcome in Hungary!" Orbán's government hosted her and other far-right figures at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in 2024.
In the UK, the move was criticised by former Prime Minister Liz Truss, who wrote on X: "People who tell the truth about what's happening in Britain banned from the country." Reform UK's Rupert Lowe also said he would question the decision and call for it to be reversed.
Vlaardingerbroek has a history of appearances in Britain. Last year, she spoke at the UK's largest ever far-right protest in London, an event organised by activist Tommy Robinson (Stephen Yaxley-Lennon). At that event, she wore a T-shirt with the slogan 'Generation Remigration'—a term widely regarded as a euphemism for forced mass deportations.
A Pattern of Excluding Extremist Figures
This is not an isolated action by the British authorities. The UK has a precedent of barring individuals deemed extremist.
- Earlier this month, an Islamist preacher was banned for defending Hamas after the 7 October attacks on Israel.
- In 2019, Martin Sellner, a leading anti-Islamic extremist, was permanently barred from entering the UK. His organisation was investigated in Austria over links to the Christchurch shooting suspect.
The ban on Vlaardingerbroek may also prompt a backlash from allies in the United States, where some figures associated with the Trump administration have previously accused Britain of suppressing free speech.
The Home Office's decisive action underscores the UK government's continuing policy of preventing entry to individuals whose views and activities are considered a threat to public order and the wider public good.
