Hasan Piker was set to meet Zack Polanski and Jeremy Corbyn in UK before being banned from UK

“Hasan Piker was set to meet Zack Polanski and Jeremy Corbyn in UK before being banned from UK Submitted by Imran Mulla on Mon, 06/01/2026 - 10:25 The American podcaster has been barred from entering Britain in a move condemned by Polanski and Corbyn Hasan Piker attends the 2026 Vanity Fair Oscar Party Hosted By Mark Guiducci at Los Angeles County Museum of Art on March 15, 2026. (AFP) Off American political commentator Hasan Piker was scheduled to meet Green Party leader Zack Polanski and former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn in Britain before being denied entry by the Home Office, Middle East Eye has learnt. Sources with knowledge of the matter told MEE Piker was set to appear on Polanski's podcast, Bold Politics. On Monday morning Polanski condemned the decision to ban Piker and Uygur, saying : "People often talk about dangerous road we'd go down under a Reform government - this is another clear warning we're down there already." He said Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood "needs to explain this strange and worrying decision, and Andy Burnham needs to make his view clear." "A Labour government [is] doing everything possible to silence criticism of the Israeli Government. Sources also said Corbyn, the parliamentary leader of the left-wing Your Party and one of Britain's most prominent politicians, was scheduled to appear alongside Piker in an interview before the podcaster had his travel authorisation revoked. Piker was banned alongside Cenk Uygur, another American political commentator. Both said they were denied entry over their criticism of Israel. Corbyn said on Monday morning: "Banning Cenk Uyghur and Hasan Piker from entering the UK is an absurd and cowardly decision from an increasingly authoritarian government. ‘Sick of the purity politics’: Why Ana Kasparian is ready to work with the right on Israel Read More » "Let us call this what it is: an attack on the freedom to criticise Israel, as well as the UK government’s own complicity in genocide." The planned interview was understood to have been with British news outlet PoliticsJOE, although the organisation has not at time of writing issued a public statement on the matter. MEE has contacted PoliticsJOE for comment. Piker and Uygur were also set to speak at the Oxford Union and the SXSW London festival. Oxford Union President Arwa Elrayess told MEE: "These events had been publicly announced for months, making this last-minute decision all the more troubling." She added: "To this day, we defend freedom of speech; the right for our invited speakers to express themselves, and to be challenged, irrespective of political viewpoint." Elrayess said the union "is exploring all available options to ensure the discussion takes place, including hosting it online." Meanwhile SXSW London said: "Decisions on entry to the U.K. 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." Labour MP David Taylor called for Piker to be banned from entering the UK last week. On Monday he said: "Thank you Home Secretary for revoking Hasan Piker's visa. "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." 'Banned for criticising Israel' The Times reported that UK home secretary Shabana Mahmood cancelled Uygur's Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) after determining that his presence in Britain would not be "conducive to the public good." According to the newspaper, the Home Office's decision was based on several factors including concerns that Uygur's rhetoric about Israel could contribute to antisemitism and community tensions. Uygur has repeatedly criticised Israel's military campaign in Gaza and described its actions as genocide. Oxford Union's Palestinian president on why she invited Tommy Robinson to debate Islam Read More » He posted on X that the British government said "that my charge that Israel controls the American government through donations to 94% of Congress, while factual, is antisemitic nonetheless. Don't know if facts will soon be banned in Britain. "I didn't get banned for criticizing the UK, but for criticizing Israel. They broke the irony record by saying it was because I said Israel might control other governments. I wonder if they're going to ban themselves." This comes amid an upsurge in foreign speakers being denied entry to Britain. British political commentator Aaron Bastani said : "Britain at the height of its power and prestige was home to Karl Marx and Giuseppe Mazzini. It was a refuge for Alexander Herzen and Victor Hugo. "Now, in 2026, it wont allow American YouTubers & streamers to enter because they criticised Israel." Last month the Home Office barred eleven people from entering Britain who were scheduled to speak at a far-right ally organised by anti-Islam activist Tommy Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon. UK Politics News Post Date Override 0 Update Date Mon, 05/04/2020 - 21:19 Update Date Override 0

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