US political commentators denied entry to UK by Home Office

Two left-wing content creators have been blocked from entering the United Kingdom after they said the Home Office revoked their visas.

The pair have blasted the UK government, claiming they were "banned for criticising Israel".

"I tried to get on a flight to London to attend SXSW London and give a speech at Oxford. I've been banned for criticising Israel. Are we free any more?

"This is oppression of western citizens by our own governments on behalf of a different country."

Replying to this post, Piker wrote: "The UK has revoked my visa as well. All at the behest of Israel. The west is betraying 'liberal values' for a genocidal fascist foreign government. Soon we will all become Israel."

It is understood that both men had their Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) cancelled.

A decision to cancel an ETA can be based on assessment of the potential risk someone might pose to the UK public good.

Labour MP David Taylor, who last week called for Piker to be barred from entering the UK, thanked the home secretary for the decision.

"There's no reason to open our doors to those who seek to spread hate and division, especially to those who've supported a proscribed terror group," Taylor wrote on X.

SXSW London is a six-day event in East London's Shoreditch that holds talks about business, technology, music, film and culture.

A spokesperson for the event said they were aware the pair were unable to travel to the UK because of the Home Office revoking their visas.

"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," the spokesperson added.

Piker has a daily audience of 30,000 for his hours-long streams on the Twitch platform, according to a profile on the SXSW London website, which has since been taken down.

He was listed at an event called "How The American Left Learned To Speak The Internet". Uygur was scheduled to be part of a discussion called "Techno-Feudalism Is Here. Who Are The Lords?".

Piker, who is Uygur's nephew, told Variety last year that he was not antisemitic but is "anti-Israel".

The Community Security Trust, a Jewish community group, said in a statement that it welcomed the decision to bar Piker from entering the UK and "the government's recognition that there must be consequences when public figures cross the line into hate speech".

"While critic