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| Far-right Dutch MP heading to UK | Far-right Dutch MP heading to UK |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| Controversial right-wing Dutch MP Geert Wilders is due to arrive in the UK later after the home secretary said he would not try to block his entry. | Controversial right-wing Dutch MP Geert Wilders is due to arrive in the UK later after the home secretary said he would not try to block his entry. |
| Mr Wilders was turned away from the UK in February on the grounds that his allegedly anti-Islamic views posed a threat to public security. | Mr Wilders was turned away from the UK in February on the grounds that his allegedly anti-Islamic views posed a threat to public security. |
| But the Freedom Party leader is now due to visit London on Friday after that ban was overturned by a tribunal. | But the Freedom Party leader is now due to visit London on Friday after that ban was overturned by a tribunal. |
| The Home Office says it is considering whether to challenge the decision. | The Home Office says it is considering whether to challenge the decision. |
| A spokesman for Home Secretary Alan Johnson said on Thursday: "Any European visitor's right to enter the UK will be considered on its merits by an immigration officer. | A spokesman for Home Secretary Alan Johnson said on Thursday: "Any European visitor's right to enter the UK will be considered on its merits by an immigration officer. |
| "On this occasion the home secretary is not minded to recommend that Wilders is denied admission to the UK. | "On this occasion the home secretary is not minded to recommend that Wilders is denied admission to the UK. |
| "Clearly Mr Wilders' statements and behaviour during a visit will inevitably impact on any future decisions to admit him." | "Clearly Mr Wilders' statements and behaviour during a visit will inevitably impact on any future decisions to admit him." |
| It's not my intention to have anything at all to do with violence Geert WildersFreedom Party | It's not my intention to have anything at all to do with violence Geert WildersFreedom Party |
| 'Inter-faith violence' | 'Inter-faith violence' |
| Mr Wilders, who faces trial in his own country for inciting hatred, is due to visit the House of Lords on Friday on the invitation of UK Independence Party peer Lord Pearson. | Mr Wilders, who faces trial in his own country for inciting hatred, is due to visit the House of Lords on Friday on the invitation of UK Independence Party peer Lord Pearson. |
| He had tried to visit in February to show his controversial film Fitna, which links the Koran to terrorism, but he was turned back by immigration officials at Heathrow airport on the grounds that his views could stir up "inter-faith violence". | He had tried to visit in February to show his controversial film Fitna, which links the Koran to terrorism, but he was turned back by immigration officials at Heathrow airport on the grounds that his views could stir up "inter-faith violence". |
| However, on Tuesday the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal ruled there was no evidence to suggest he represented a real and serious threat to the "fundamental interest" of society. | However, on Tuesday the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal ruled there was no evidence to suggest he represented a real and serious threat to the "fundamental interest" of society. |
| The judges said that even if there had been evidence, it would still have been wrong to turn him away because in the event of any trouble the police would have been able to deal with it. | The judges said that even if there had been evidence, it would still have been wrong to turn him away because in the event of any trouble the police would have been able to deal with it. |
| GEERT WILDERS Nicknamed "Mozart" because of his mane of platinum blond hairVoted politician of the year in 2007 by the Dutch political press,Lives under police protection because of death threatsWants the Koran and the Muslim garment, the burka, to be banned Profile: Geert Wilders | GEERT WILDERS Nicknamed "Mozart" because of his mane of platinum blond hairVoted politician of the year in 2007 by the Dutch political press,Lives under police protection because of death threatsWants the Koran and the Muslim garment, the burka, to be banned Profile: Geert Wilders |
| "It was more important to allow free speech than to take restrictive action speculatively," they said. | "It was more important to allow free speech than to take restrictive action speculatively," they said. |
| Mr Wilders is due to give a press conference on Friday. He has already said he does not plan to show his film during this visit, but intends to return again at a later date for a screening. | Mr Wilders is due to give a press conference on Friday. He has already said he does not plan to show his film during this visit, but intends to return again at a later date for a screening. |
| The Home Office said on Thursday that Mr Wilders was previously stopped from entering the UK under EU immigration regulations on the grounds of public policy and security. | The Home Office said on Thursday that Mr Wilders was previously stopped from entering the UK under EU immigration regulations on the grounds of public policy and security. |
| His case differs from that of a larger number of individuals - including Islamic extremists and white supremacists - who are on a list of people excluded from Britain for "unacceptable behaviour". | His case differs from that of a larger number of individuals - including Islamic extremists and white supremacists - who are on a list of people excluded from Britain for "unacceptable behaviour". |
| The power to impose such exclusions was introduced in 2005, following the London bombings, and applies predominantly to non-EU nationals who would seek to "foster hatred or promote terrorism". | The power to impose such exclusions was introduced in 2005, following the London bombings, and applies predominantly to non-EU nationals who would seek to "foster hatred or promote terrorism". |
| Earlier this week, Mr Wilders told BBC Radio 5 Live his intention had only ever been "to have a debate about freedom of speech and the threat of Islamisation of our Western societies". | Earlier this week, Mr Wilders told BBC Radio 5 Live his intention had only ever been "to have a debate about freedom of speech and the threat of Islamisation of our Western societies". |
| "I believe the decision of the UK government was political; it was not based on law," he said. | "I believe the decision of the UK government was political; it was not based on law," he said. |
| "It's not my intention to have anything at all to do with violence." | "It's not my intention to have anything at all to do with violence." |
| The Home Office said a final decision would be made on whether to appeal against the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal's decision after its written judgement was handed down next week. |