Named and shamed: the 16 barred from UK - UK Politics, UK - The Independent

Named and shamed: the 16 barred from UK - UK Politics, UK - The Independent

Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said she decided to make public the names of 16 people banned since October so others could better understand what sort of behaviour Britain was not prepared to tolerate.

The list includes hate preachers, anti-gay protesters and a far- right US talk show host.

"I think it's important that people understand the sorts of values and sorts of standards that we have here, the fact that it's a privilege to come and the sort of things that mean you won't be welcome in this country," Ms Smith told GMTV.

"Coming to this country is a privilege. If you can't live by the rules that we live by, the standards and the values that we live by, we should exclude you from this country and, what's more, now we will make public those people that we have excluded.

"We are publishing the names of 16 of those that we have excluded since October. We are telling people who they are and why it is we don't want them in this country."

I hope you are all not cheering because the Phelps' are listed here. Just remember, when people can limit the speech of people you disagree with, they can later turn around and ban your speech. This is actually a sad day for free speech in the UK.