Two US left-wing commentators have been banned from entering the UK to speak at a conference this week, the Home Office has confirmed.
Cenk Uygur, host of The Young Turks online political talk show, and Hasan Piker, a prominent influencer and streamer, say they have been prevented from appearing at SXSW London, due to run from Monday to Saturday.
Both of the commentators have had their electronic travel authorisation (ETA) cancelled by the UK government on the grounds that their presence in the country may not be conducive to the public good.
Green Party leader Zack Polanski has called the decision “really grim”, writing on social media: “People often talk about dangerous road we’d go down under a Reform government – this is another clear warning we’re down there already.
“A Labour government doing everything possible to silence criticism of the Israeli Government.”
The two banned commentators have also linked their bans to previous criticism of Israel.
Mr Uygur wrote online: “I’ve been banned for criticizing Israel. Are we free anymore? This is oppression of Western citizens by our own governments on behalf of a different country!”
He added that he had tried to get on the flight to London before finding out he had been banned from entering the country.
He was also due to speak at an event run by University of Oxford students.
Mr Piker said the UK had revoked his visa “at the behest of Israel” and that the West was “betraying” its liberal values for a “fascist foreign government”.
The Home Office decides whether to refuse or cancel an ETA based on an assessment of potential risk an individual may pose to UK society.
The duo remain able to apply for a visa, which would be freshly considered, but this would likely not be in time for the upcoming SXSW London event.
Mr Piker has faced backlash for his comments in the past, including reportedly saying on a stream in 2019 that “America deserved 9/11”, which he later apologised for and said was “inappropriate”.
The commentator has also stood by is comments that Hamas is “1,000 times better” than Israel, and that he “would vote for Hamas over Israel every single time”. Mr Piker has said he is not antisemitic, and defines his viewpoint as anti-Israel.
SXSW organisers previously described him as “redefining what political commentary looks like in the digital age”, adding that his live streams reach more than 30,000 people every day.
Mr Piker was listed as among the speakers at an event called How The American Left Learned To Speak The Internet, while Mr Uygur was due to take part in a discussion called Techno-Feudalism Is Here. Who Are The Lords?
Last week, the Jewish organisation the Community Security Trust urged the festival to “act responsibly” and not allow the UK to be a “platform” for Mr Piker. They added that he has a “record of promoting rhetoric that includes antisemitic themes, denial of well-documented atrocities and apparent support for extremist groups”.
According to The Times, the decision to block Mr Uygur, who is Mr Piker’s uncle, was based on concerns his presence would risk exacerbating antisemitism.
He has been accused of propagating tropes in the past in his discussions of America-Israel relations. The paper also noted concerns that he appeared to dismiss evidence relating to grooming gangs in towns such as Rotherham in conversation with Piers Morgan last year.
The Home Office has declined to comment. Under Shabana Mahmood, who became secretary last year, the department has been accused by groups such as Amnesty International and Defend Our Juries of unduly cracking down on freedom of expression.
More than 3,000 protestors have been arrested to date for Palestine Action, which was proscribed as a terror group by the Home Office in 2025.
The government also blocked 11 foreign nationals described by Sir Keir Starmer as “far-right agitators” from entering the UK ahead of a Tommy Robinson-led rally in central London earlier this month.
Those claiming to have been barred include Polish politician Dominik Tarczynski, Belgian politician Filip Dewinter, anti-Islam commentator Valentina Gomez and Dutch activist Eva Vlaardingerbroek.
A SXSW London spokesperson said: “We are aware that Cenk Uygur and Hasan Piker are unable to travel to the UK following a decision by the Home Office. They will therefore not be participating in the SXSW London programme this year. Decisions on entry to the UK are a matter for the Home Office and the individuals concerned.
“SXSW London’s role is to convene a broad range of diverse voices and perspectives. We remain focused on delivering a programme this week fostering open dialogue and exchange of ideas and featuring more than 800 speakers, artists and screenings.”
