Key facts
- Milo Yiannopoulos has been deported from the US and returned to the UK.
- He was deported for overstaying his visa, having entered the US in May 2019.
- Figures within the UK right wing believe Yiannopoulos is too extreme for mainstream platforms like GB News.
- Yiannopoulos previously worked for Breitbart News and was associated with Donald Trump.
- The party Restore Britain, led by Rupert Lowe, is a potential avenue for Yiannopoulos.
- Yiannopoulos has praised Rupert Lowe and encouraged support for Restore Britain.
Milo Yiannopoulos, a far-right provocateur, has returned to the UK following his deportation from the United States by the Trump administration for overstaying his visa. The 41-year-old commentator, who gained prominence in the US for promoting Donald Trump and working with Steve Bannon at Breitbart News, now faces uncertainty about his standing within the UK's right-wing political landscape.
Sources within the UK right-wing ecosystem suggest that Yiannopoulos's extreme positions, which led to his notoriety in the US, may make him too controversial for mainstream platforms. A source at GB News stated that the channel would not feature him, citing his appeal to an "American audience" and a perceived lack of traction in the UK. This comes as other right-wing commentators, such as Dan Wootton and Mike Graham, have established their own independent platforms after facing controversies on established media outlets.
Yiannopoulos's past controversies include leaving Breitbart after remarks that appeared to condone sexual relations with minors, which he attributed to "sloppy editing" and "British sarcasm." His former Breitbart colleague, Raheem Kassam, has accused Yiannopoulos of making "lurid and false accusations" and was aware of his deportation. Maga influencer Laura Loomer has also claimed to have reported Yiannopoulos to immigration enforcement for his expired visa.
While Reform UK is reportedly unlikely to accept Yiannopoulos, the political party Restore Britain, led by Rupert Lowe, is seen as a potential avenue. Yiannopoulos has publicly praised Lowe and urged UK hard-right activists to join Restore Britain, suggesting it is where "the rising generation of young British activists" are aligning. Lowe has previously accepted individuals deemed too extreme for Reform, including Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, also known as Tommy Robinson.
Yiannopoulos legally entered the US in May 2019 but overstayed his visa. He also worked on Kanye West's presidential campaign and for a company owned by the rapper. In the past, Yiannopoulos had expressed a desire not to return to the UK, advocating for a "mass deportation programme."