Sarah Ludford MEP

Commenting on the press conference covering the arrival in London of the far right Dutch MP,  Geert Wilders', who was previously banned from entering Britain because of his views on Islam, Liberal Democrat European Justice & Human Rights spokeswoman and MEP for London Sarah Ludford said:
"As I predicted at the time, the unwise and panicky government decision to bar him from entering the UK in February has only made him a martyr and whipped up a media frenzy.

"Geert Wilders is just an obsessive and not very clever politician with unpleasant views, not a celebrity. If he stirs up hatred against Muslims he should be prosecuted. In any case he should not get film star treatment.

"Debate about the impact of religion - but not just Islam - on public life is certainly needed, as well as how different cultures and faiths co-exist under the same set of laws and human rights observance. But the narrow-minded Wilders has nothing of value to say on those topics."

For more information about the Liberal Democrats view:
www.brighton-hovelibdems.org.uk