Anti-migration philosopher to fight UK ban
An anti-migration philosopher barred from Britain for going against 'the public good' is planning to appeal the ban imposed by the Home Office.
Renaud Camus, the French writer behind the 'great replacement' theory that Europe's indigenous populations are being displaced by migrants, was prevented from travelling to the UK, where he intended to speak later this month.
The decision has sparked concerns over free speech, with the Government warned against sending the wrong message during trade negotiations with Donald Trump.
The Telegraph understands Mr Camus is planning to appeal against the ban with the help of the Free Speech Union, led by Lord Young, a Tory peer.
It is unclear exactly why the philosopher was barred from the UK, but the Home Office has said his presence 'was not considered to be conducive to the public good'.
Lord Young said: 'We've reached out to him to see if he'd like any help in appealing this decision, and he said yes. So I anticipate that we are going to be getting an immigration lawyer on the case.'
The Tory peer said it was 'wrong' for the Government to bar Mr Camus from entering the UK.
He said: 'I don't think that the common good is endangered by inviting people to set out their contentious views in the public square, particularly not someone as distinguished as Mr Camus.'
Lord Young said it seemed 'tin-eared' for the Home Office to impose the ban while Sir Keir Starmer is attempting to secure a trade deal with Mr Trump, given the US state department has recently expressed concerns about 'freedom of expression' in the UK.
A US source told The Telegraph at the time that there should be 'no free trade without free speech'.
Sir Keir said he 'made clear' in talks with JD Vance, the US vice-president, earlier this year that the UK guarded free speech 'preciously'.
Lord Young said: 'We're trying to secure a trade deal with the United States, and the United States have flagged up that one of the conditions of the deal will be that we make a better fist of defending free speech.'
He added: 'Keir Starmer said at a White House press conference that free speech was in robust good health in the UK, and didn't need to be given any lessons about how to uphold it from the United States. But if that's true, why is the Government no-platforming people?'
It is understood that Mr Camus was due to deliver a speech at an event organised by the nationalist and anti-immigration Homeland Party.
He said he was also set to debate at the Oxford Union later this year, with those plans now thrown into doubt.
UK 'guiltiest' of illegal migration
The 78-year-old has alleged that unchecked immigration will lead to demographic 'replacement' of Europe's indigenous populations.
In an email seen by The Telegraph, the Home Office informed Mr Camus that he had been denied the electronic travel authorisation needed to enter Britain.
The email said: 'Your presence in the UK is not considered to be conducive to the public good.'
Mr Camus told The Telegraph that 'of all the European governments guilty' of allowing unchecked migration, 'the British Government is one of the guiltiest'.
'No wonder it does not want me to speak,' he added.
Richard Tice, the deputy leader of Reform UK, invited Labour MPs who were denied access to Israel earlier this month to condemn the Home Office's decision.
He told The Telegraph: 'Will the Labour MPs who complained about being denied entry into Israel stand up for this gentleman? Or are they hypocrites?'
Sir Keir condemned Benjamin Netanyahu's government after Yuan Yang and Abtisam Mohamed, two Labour backbenchers, were turned away from the country and deported two weeks ago.
The Israeli immigration ministry justified its decision by claiming Ms Yang and Ms Mohamed, who have both previously backed a boycott of some Israeli goods, were planning to spread 'anti-Israel hatred'.
Mr Camus has been branded a conspiracy theorist for his views that mass immigration will lead to the replacement of settled populations.
It comes amid a growing debate over free speech in the UK, particularly on the issue of immigration. Some have argued that the 2024 summer riots in the wake of the Southport murders were fuelled by online misinformation.
Rupert Lowe, the ex-Reform MP, has accused his former party of trying to silence him over his 'outspoken' views on migration.
Sources close to Nigel Farage claimed Mr Lowe had drifted politically and been 'captured by the online radical Right', making myriad X posts about 'mass deportations' and other preoccupations.
Lord Young said: 'If Mr Camus wants to be sure of being able to visit the United Kingdom, maybe he should come over in a dinghy in the middle of the night. That way, he's guaranteed entry.'
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