Immigration Controls: Demonstrations
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of refusing entry to foreign nationals attending the Unite the Kingdom rally on 16 May 2026 on freedom of expression.
Answered by Mike Tapp
The Home Office does not routinely comment on individual cases.
Immigration applications from people wishing to attend political demonstrations are considered on a case-by-case basis, in accordance with the Immigration Rules and published policies. Where an application is refused or permission is cancelled, the person receives a letter or an email explaining the reasons for the decision and whether the decision can be appealed or administratively reviewed.
The Home Secretary has the power to exclude a person who is not a British citizen if their presence in the UK is not conducive to the public good. Where possible a person will be notified of their exclusion in writing and given reasons for their exclusion. There is no right of appeal against an exclusion decision.
The Border Security Asylum and Immigration Act 2025 strengthened the powers available to protect the public from migrants that pose a threat but cannot be removed because of our obligations under domestic and international law.
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