Andreas Malm condemns UK travel ban as 'drift into authoritarianism'

Swedish climate academic Andreas Malm has condemned the UK travel ban imposed on him as a "drift into authoritarianism". Malm, the author of How to Blow Up a Pipeline, said he had been "kept in the dark" by UK immigration authorities about why his electronic travel authorisation (ETA), a digital permit that visitors often need before travelling to the UK, was revoked.

He said he had been told only that his presence in the UK was "not considered to be conducive to the public good". That wording is the official reason he has been given, and he said he had received no further explanation.

Speaking to Radio 4's Today programme, Malm speculated that the ban was connected to a scheduled appearance at a conference alongside Huda Ammori, a co-founder of Palestine Action. He said they had been invited to discuss the war in Iran. Malm later confirmed to the Guardian that he would now speak by video link at the event, which is organised by Tribune magazine.

In a BBC interview, Malm denied supporting or helping to finance Palestine Action. He said he was most recently in the UK in May.

The Home Office, the government department responsible for immigration, said it could not discuss individual cases in response to the Malm travel ban.

Author Sally Rooney described the ban as a "sad and frightening act of cultural self-harm".