‘Some people can't come in!’ Kemi Badenoch refreshes backing of Keir Starmer’s ban on Unite the Kingdom speakers

WATCH: Kemi Badenoch reacts to Unite the Kingdom rally

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GB NEWS

Marcus Donaldson

By Marcus Donaldson


Published: 17/05/2026

- 13:07

Updated: 17/05/2026

- 13:12

'I'm not asking for a ban on all protests, but I just think people need to calm down,' the Tory leader said

Kemi Badenoch has refreshed her backing of Sir Keir Starmer’s ban on some foreign speakers from attending Saturday’s Unite the Kingdom rally.

Speaking to GB News, the Conservative Party leader insisted: “If I'm Prime Minister, I want to be able to say that some people can't come into this country”.


Ahead of the protest fronted by Tommy Robinson over the weekend, the Prime Minister blocked 11 foreign “far-right agitators” from attending. Among those barred were Polish politician Dominik Tarczynski, Canadian media personality Ezra Levant, US Republican Party candidate Valentina Gomez and Dutch political activist Eva Vlaardingerbroek.

Reacting to the move, Mrs Badenoch told the People’s Channel: “A Government has a right to keep people out of the country if they think they're going to cause problems here.”

Even still, tens of thousands of demonstrators filled the streets of London on Saturday for both Unite the Kingdom and the pro-Palestinian Nakba Day march.

A total of 43 arrests were made across the day, with Scotland Yard saying while the figure “may seem high, both protests have proceeded largely without significant incident”.

Appearing on Camilla Tominey’s show in the wake of the demonstrations, Mrs Badenoch declared: “My view on marches is very simple.”

“Where they create a climate of intimidation and fear, and they're actually a cover for people to be doing something else, they should be stopped.

Kemi Badenoch

Kemi Badenoch has refreshed her backing of Keir Starmer's banning of some Unite the Kingdom speakers

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GB NEWS

“That's why I say they should ban the pro-Palestinian marches. We've had enough of those.”

Despite this, Mrs Badenoch added the Unite the Kingdom rallies are “fine”.

She said: “Some people go there to cause trouble. I'm not a supporter of Tommy Robinson. I don't endorse him, but I don't think that there is an issue with that."

However, the Tory leader took issue with “some people agitating about foreigners coming to speak at that rally", adding: "I'm not here to speak for foreigners.

Unite the Kingdom rally

Ahead of the protest, the Prime Minister blocked 11 foreign 'far-right agitators' from attending

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GETTY

“The free speech that I want is for free, free speech for people in this country.

“Let's unite this kingdom for once. Why is everybody agitating for foreigners?

“You've got half the people talking about what's happening in Palestine and Gaza, and another group saying that they want all sorts of people coming here.

“Let the security services and the Prime Minister make a call.

Kemi Badenoch

'If I'm Prime Minister, I want to be able to say that some people can't come into this country,' the Tory leader said

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GB NEWS

“If I'm Prime Minister, I want to be able to say that some people can't come into this country.

“If Keir Starmer had been doing that, we wouldn't have a small boats crisis. So he knows how to stop some people from entering the country.”

Mrs Badenoch also shared some frustration about “spending so much money on endless protests”.

“Now everybody's just angry all the time and on the streets all the time," she said.

“I'm not asking for a ban on all protests, but I just think people need to calm down.

“Let's focus on what's wrong with the country."