Sixteen people banned from entering the UK were “named and shamed” by the Home Office today.
Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said she decided to make public the names of 16 people banned since October so others could better understand what sort of behaviour Britain was not prepared to tolerate. The list includes hate preachers, anti-gay protesters and a far- right US talk show host. “I think it’s important that people understand the sorts of values and sorts of standards that we have here, the fact that it’s a privilege to come and the sort of things that mean you won’t be welcome in this country,” Ms Smith told GMTV.
“We are publishing the names of 16 of those that we have excluded since October. We are telling people who they are and why it is we don’t want them in this country.” She said the number of people excluded from Britain had risen from an average of two a month to five a month since October. The list of the 16 “least wanted” includes radio talk show host Michael Savage, real name Michael Weiner.
“This is someone who has fallen into the category of fomenting hatred, of such extreme views and expressing them in such a way that it is actually likely to cause inter-community tension or even violence if that person were allowed into the country,” Ms Smith told BBC Breakfast.
“If people have so clearly overstepped the mark in terms of the way not just that they are talking but the sort of attitudes that they are expressing to the extent that we think that this is likely to cause or have the potential to cause violence or inter-community tension in this country, then actually I think the right thing is not to let them into the country in the first place. Not to open the stable door then try to close it later,” Ms Smith said.
Disturbing trend or great idea? Is free speech for everyone or just those you agree with? What about the radical clerics already in the UK, will they be deported?
#77, Cow-Patty,
How about communists. Someone may be denied entry to the US simply because of what they believe politically. Missing was extremist right wing beliefs.
>> Toxic Asshead
>> There is no such thing as hate speech. Only speech.
What thu?
Of course, the content of speech matters. People get busted for the CONTENT of speech all the time.
For example, when a terrorist cell TALKS about how they are going to bomb something, is that ‘ONLY SPEECH’? Or is it terrorist speech?
Britain also banned Geert Wilders, a Dutch member of parliament who made a film depicting Muslim violence and comparing the Koran to Mein Kampf.
# 80 Mr. Fusion said, “How about communists.”
Hmm, let’s examine countries that have become communistic.
Please list which ones you would want to live in.
Next, add the total number murdered by communists in the last ~90 years.
Now, tell me why the US gov’t would want to allow insane people like that into the US…
The U.K. Government has a certain right to allow whomever they choose to enter their country. If this fellow is that much of a whacko over here, to have made himself known over there, it is probably a good thing they did not let him in the country. Some folks over there just might think all Americans are like him.
I also wouldn’t let anyone from the Taliban in my country either.
#83, Idiot Cow-Patty,
We are not comparing countries. This is about those with specific political views were denied entry while totally contrasting view holders were not barred.
It seems to me that some pretty right wing extremists such as Pinochet, Marcos, Somosa, the Shah of Iran, Ernst Zundel, Ian Paisly, and many others that had their own death squads were allowed into the US. But several communists in the same time frame were denied entry into the US because they were fleeing the right wing death squads.
I know, I know, you can justify it in your own pea brained mind so somehow it must be all right.
# 85 Mr. Fusion said, “We are not comparing countries.”
Right, we’re comparing the insane to the sane. Anyone, after seeing communism in action, who would then espouse such, is insane. The gov’t is correct in denying known insane people, entrance into the U.S.
@Paddy-O,
i don’t have a problem with any reason the state department may have for denying entry to anyone, they deported my british brother-in-law when he tried to come in on his expired student visa, which was his own stupid fault.
i’m just saying that entry into any nation is at the sole discretion of that nation, so all the whiners crying about some radio clown banned from the u.k. should pipe down.
america rejects people for political reasons all the time, big whoop, at least the brits are open about it
#78
fyi: the state department and attorney general have the right to grant waivers for people.
#86, Cow-Patty,
Well there’s another question you failed at.
Have you ever prevailed at an argument?
@Paddy-O
one thing that conservatives do that annoys me is assume that anyone who doesn’t think america is the best nation on earth must be insane.
this dangerously underestimates our enemies’ ability to plot our destruction, closes the door to the possibility of changing their mind, and as a belief could well lead to our peril.
just sayin’
#71 america has hosted many dictators
radio talk show hosts make money by stirring controversy, the brits decided they didn’t want his rabble-rousing in their country.
it’s their right do so. it was perfectly legal. show quit whining.
# 87 grog said, “i’m just saying that entry into any nation is at the sole discretion of that nation, ”
You are of course totally correct.
Can anyone imagine Michael Savage running a militia, starting a gang or accumulating a true following?
I mean, I guess the guy is somewhat successful for AM radio, but let’s keep it real.
Some cuntbag UK bureaucrat adding him to a list of people the UK fears is really a very disconcerting joke.
They’d have more credibility banning Cobra Commander or Lex Luthor than banning some late night AM radio windbag.
Meanwhile, I’m sure Mr. Savage is laughing all the way to the bank and some people in the UK (and the US) now know who he is.
I usually dont wish ill of someone, but when he comes on the radio and I am driving, I cant turn off the radio fast enough. I almost cause accidents in order to get to the dial fast. He is the most negative person I have ever listened too. His voice alone just radiates negativity, he had bad energy as far as I am concerned. Maybe this will make him think twice before he blabs out!
In fact, I am only on this sight because today while driving, I did it again and thought when I get home, I want to google him, to just see if he has horns… doesnt seem to match his voice and mannerism????
he has not lost his free speech right,he lost the priviledge to travel to another country.speech has consequences this is a consequence of his. any country has a right to deny any non citizen entry based on anything.he has NO right to go to GB.