By Gloria Ogbonna
Former Polish’s presidential candidate Sławomir Mentzen has alleged that he was detained by British authorities after arriving in London with his wife and children, describing the experience as politically motivated and accusing the United Kingdom of sliding toward “totalitarianism.”
Mentzen, who finished third in Poland’s most recent presidential election and serves as leader of the right-wing New Hope party, said the incident occurred on Friday as his family passed through passport control at a London airport. According to the Polish politician, what began as a routine entry procedure turned into a prolonged detention that lasted more than three hours.
In a series of social media posts, Mentzen claimed that British border officials informed him his name had been flagged by “some organisation” within the government. He said officers questioned him extensively about the purpose of his visit, his planned accommodation, the duration of his stay, and whether he intended to attend or speak at any political events while in the country.
Mentzen insisted that he had no plans to address a political meeting, suggesting that British authorities acted on incorrect or exaggerated assumptions. “They believed I was going to speak at a political meeting I wasn’t even going to,” he wrote, framing the episode as an example of preemptive political suspicion.
After hours of questioning and waiting, Mentzen said he was ultimately allowed to enter the country without being given a formal explanation for the hold-up. “They gave me my passport and said I could go. Without any explanation as to who did not want me to enter Great Britain or why,” he stated, adding that the delay disrupted what was intended to be a family visit. “My day was wasted with my family in London, and I didn’t even find out what was going on.”
The New Hope leader did not hold back in his criticism of the UK, claiming the episode revealed a broader trend of political censorship. “Great Britain is a totalitarian country,” he declared, arguing that certain viewpoints are being scrutinized more aggressively than others. He speculated that had he openly advertised a political event, he might have been denied entry altogether.
Mentzen, known for his strong opposition to mass migration and his sharp rhetoric on cultural and national identity, contrasted his treatment with what he described as leniency toward other ideological actors. In inflammatory remarks, he suggested that extremist voices would face fewer obstacles entering the country than conservative politicians expressing right-wing views.
While emphasizing that he supports the right of sovereign nations to control their borders—citing his own opposition to large-scale migration into Poland—Mentzen argued that Britain appears to be targeting individuals for their political beliefs rather than focusing on security threats. In one pointed comment, he quipped that arriving by small boat might have been easier than passing through standard passport control.
The incident comes amid heightened political tensions in the UK over immigration and free speech. It also arrives just days before anti-grooming gang activist Tommy Robinson is scheduled to hold another “Unite the Kingdom” rally in London focused on mass migration and national sovereignty.
Last month, controversy erupted when U.S. Republican congressional candidate Valentina Gomez was barred from attending a similar rally. The UK government revoked her travel visa, citing that her presence would not be “conducive to the public good.” The decision was overseen by Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, who has authority over immigration and border control matters.
Gomez, a Colombia-born activist known for her outspoken views on Islam and immigration, responded by publicly criticizing the decision and suggesting she might attempt to enter the UK via the English Channel in a small boat, referencing the thousands of migrants who have crossed in recent years.
British authorities have not publicly commented in detail on Mentzen’s specific claims. Under UK law, border officials have broad discretionary powers to question and, in some cases, refuse entry to foreign nationals if they believe their presence may not align with public interest considerations.
For Mentzen and his supporters, however, the episode reinforces a broader narrative that Western European governments are increasingly wary of right-wing populist figures. For critics, it highlights the tension between free expression and national security in an era of heightened political polarization.
Whether the three-hour airport detention was a bureaucratic precaution or something more deliberate, it has already become a flashpoint in ongoing debates about immigration, sovereignty, and the limits of political speech in modern Britain.
Source Breitbart
Original article
Comments