#620 Is Political Opinion Now Grounds for a Travel Ban?

In this episode, Niall is joined by barrister Dominic Wilkinson to unpack a controversial case raising big questions about borders, politics, and free speech.

Well-known Dutch online commentator and public speaker Eva Vlaar claims she has been banned from entering the UK after posting a tweet critical of Labour leader Keir Starmer. According to Vlaar, she received a letter cancelling her travel permission, stating that her presence in Britain was “not conducive to the public good.”

Niall and Dominic explore the legal and constitutional issues behind the case: Do countries have the right to refuse entry to visitors based on their political views or public criticism of those in power? Where does immigration control end and political censorship begin? And how do these decisions sit alongside long-held principles of free expression in democratic societies?

Listeners are encouraged to get involved, with callers offering sharply divided views. Some argue it makes no sense to admit someone who is openly hostile to government policy, while others warn that banning individuals for their opinions risks crossing a dangerous line and undermining free speech itself.

A lively, thought-provoking discussion on sovereignty, rights, and the limits of tolerance in modern democracies.