Dutch commentator Eva Vlaardingerbroek has been banned from entering the UK after criticizing Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s handling of migrant crime. The ban was announced three days after Vlaardingerbroek, who has over 2 million followers on social media, accused Starmer of neglecting the issue.
Vlaardingerbroek, a former right-wing politician, received an email from the UK government stating that her presence in the country was not “conducive to the public good.” The decision, which cannot be appealed, was made after she criticized Starmer’s claim that Britain’s social media crackdown was about “women’s safety.” Vlaardingerbroek argued that Starmer was ignoring the “ongoing rape and killing of British girls by migrant rape gangs,” referencing the UK grooming gangs scandal.
The scandal, which involves groups of men of mostly foreign origin sexually exploiting children, has been a contentious issue in the UK since the early 2010s. Starmer’s government launched a formal probe into the matter in mid-2025, following a private inquiry by MP Rupert Lowe. Vlaardingerbroek’s criticism of Starmer’s handling of the issue may have contributed to her ban, as well as her participation in an anti-government, anti-immigration protest in the UK last September.
The ban has drawn reactions from public figures internationally, with MP Rupert Lowe calling it “disgraceful” and requesting that the Home Office reverse the decision. Dutch politician Lidewij de Vos deemed it “extremely worrying” and urged diplomatic action, while Hungarian PM Viktor Orban offered Vlaardingerbroek a welcome in Hungary. The ban comes amid controversy over Britain’s hate speech and online safety laws, which critics argue target political dissent and social commentary rather than harmful content.
Vlaardingerbroek’s case adds to a growing list of high-profile figures denied entry to the UK on public good grounds, including French novelist Renaud Camus and South African opposition leader Julius Malema. The commentator has stated that her travel ban “indisputably proves the UK is no longer a free country.” The incident has sparked concerns about the limits of free speech and the impact of online safety laws on political discourse in the UK. As the situation develops, it remains to be seen how the UK government will respond to criticism of its decision to ban Vlaardingerbroek.
