Andreas Malm Condemns UK Travel Ban as ‘Drift into Authoritarianism’

Swedish climate academic Andreas Malm has strongly criticized the UK government’s decision to revoke his electronic travel authorisation (ETA), calling it a “drift into authoritarianism.” Malm, known for his controversial book How to Blow Up a Pipeline, said he was “kept in the dark” about the reasons behind the Home Office’s move, which has sparked criticism from free speech advocates. The revocation prevents Malm from entering the UK, where he had planned to speak at events. His case has raised concerns about the use of immigration powers to silence dissenting voices, particularly those critical of government climate policies. The Home Office has not publicly explained the decision, but the incident aligns with a broader pattern of visa denials for activists and academics in recent years. Malm’s supporters argue that the ban is a politically motivated attempt to suppress radical environmental discourse. As debates over protest rights and climate action intensify, this case may become a flashpoint for questions about democratic freedoms and the boundaries of acceptable dissent in the UK.