Posted By Vicki McClure Davidson on July 19, 2009

Michael Savage fans, the UK ban that prevented the controversial radio talk show host from being allowed to enter the United Kingdom has been tossed out. Home Secretary Jacqui Smith who imposed the ban has resigned her post. Savage is now allowed to visit the land of bangers, Beatles, bobbies, and Buckingham Palace.

Love him or despise him, Savage’s vindication is a victory for freedom of speech.

Links to previous Frugal Café posts about the Savage UK ban:
Banned & Defamed by UK, Radio Talk Show Host Michael Savage Pushes Back | Updated 5/15/2009

American Radio Host Michael Savage & Kashmiri Terrorist Leader Banned from UK — Update: Video Added

Michael Savage: Pack your bags for England!
Britain’s incoming home secretary says ban on radio talker’s travel to be lifted
WorldNetDaily | July 18, 2009

WASHINGTON – Radio talker Michael Savage told WND he was “stunned” by the quick decision by incoming United Kingdom Home Secretary Alan Johnson to scrap his predecessor’s list of people banned from Britain – a list that included Savage along with Islamic hate preachers and terrorists.

Savage had sued outgoing Home Secretary Jacqui Smith for libel for listing him, along with 15 others, as “least wanted” visitors in the country. Meanwhile, Smith’s successor, Alan Johnson, called the move a terrible blunder and told the London Daily Mail he would scrap the policy of maintaining such enemies lists.

“I am stunned by this sudden sign of sanity in the U.K. government,” Savage told WND. “But I won’t believe it until they send a letter to me confirming it.”

Savage said he also demands an apology from Smith.

Johnson said Smith had no right to put Savage, the third highest rated radio talker in America, on the same list as a former Ku Klux Klan grand wizard, a skinhead gang leader and a Hezbollah militant.

Last week, Jacqui Smith admitted she was not up to being home secretary, saying she should have been given some training for the job before being named.

“When I became home secretary I’d never run a major organization,” she told Total Politics magazine. “I hope I did a good job but if I did it was more by luck than by any kind of development of skills. I think we should have been better trained. I think there should have been more induction.”

Last month, Smith resigned her position in the wake of scandal over personal use of taxpayer funds and her controversial ban of Savage.

From Mail Online:

Johnson ditches Jacqui Smith’s least-wanted list as a ‘blunder’
By Simon Walters | July 18, 2009

Home Secretary Alan Johnson is to scrap his predecessor’s policy of naming and shaming people banned from Britain for spreading race hate and terrorism.

The U-turn follows Jacqui Smith’s controversial decision two months ago to announce a list of 16 people branded as ‘least wanted’ in the UK.

It led to a claim for £100,000 damages by U.S. radio ’shock jock’ Michael Savage, who objected to being put in the same category as Islamic hate preachers and terrorists.

The Mail on Sunday has been told that Mr Johnson believes the move was a blunder and does not propose to issue similar lists in the future. But the switch could have major legal consequences for the Government.

Mr Savage is suing Ms Smith for libel over the list and abandoning the policy could make it impossible to contest his demand for damages.

The presenter, real name Michael Weiner, has eight million listeners for his Savage Nation show in America, but his hardline views on Islam, rape and autism have caused outrage.

He said Ms Smith had no right to put him on the same list as a former Ku Klux Klan grand wizard, a skinhead gang leader and a Hezbollah militant.

The ban sparked a major debate about freedom of speech – Mr Savage claimed he was forced to employ security guards after threats against him.

He said: ‘I’m not a terrorist. I’m one of America’s most popular radio hosts and a happily married father of two.

‘Maybe Jacqui Smith just plucked my name out of the hat because I’m controversial and white – to counter-balance all the Arabs named on her list.’

Related reading:
22 Moon: Doctor Michael Savage un-banned from the United Kingdom!
Publius, Big Government: Michael Savage to Debate Free Speech at Cambridge Union Oct. 15th
The Right Perspective: Michael Savage Off UK Ban List
Deadline Live with Jack Blood: Michael Savage Off UK Ban List
Brian Jennings, Big Hollywood: Incoming FCC Chairman: No Censorship.
Jeffrey Jena, Big Hollywood: Let’s Ban Some Brits
SeattlePi.com: Britain publishes list of people banned from entry
Boris Johnson, Telegraph.co.uk: Michael Savage poses no risk to British security so why won’t MPs say so?
Brian Jennings: Unreal: Broadcaster Freedom Amendment Defeated
Nice Deb: Michael Savage Banned In Britain
Weasel Zippers: UK Bans Michael Savage From Entering Country for Anti-Islam Views…..
The Victorious Opposition: UK Bans Geert Wilders and Britain’s Contribution To The Green Movement: “If I don’t breath, consume, or excrete, you won’t kill me then, right?”
Hot Air: The obligatory “Michael Savage banned from Britain” post and It’s not just Rush: Talk show hosts around the country under attack
Michelle Malkin: Savage vs. CAIR
Independent Conservative: Michael Savage Rips Hugo Chavez and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Promotes Boycott of Citgo! (includes audio, 2006)

Categories: Freedom of Speech, Government, International Relations, Law & Constitution, Media & Communication, Social and Political Climate
Tags: Alan Johnson, banned from UK, Britain bans Michael Savage, conservative, conservative talk radio, England, Jacqui Smith, Michael Savage, political, politics, talk radio, terrorist, United Kingdom