UK MP Hannah Spencer on Israel Travel Ban List, Manchester 2026

Key Points

• Gorton and Denton MP Hannah Spencer is one of 12 British citizens who have been banned from traveling to Israel, according to an announcement by the Israeli Foreign Ministry on 8 September 2026.
• Those prohibited from traveling to Israel include 11 serving MPs and one campaigner, Fahad Ansari, of Riverway to the Sea.
• “The individuals in question are those involved in antisemitic and anti-Israel activity, as well as those who deny the very existence of the State of Israel,” according to Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar.
• The decision was made as part of a number of retaliatory actions after the UK government, under Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband, announced sanctions against goods from illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank.
• In addition, the list includes the closure of the UK consulate in Jerusalem, removal of British diplomats from the International Gaza Support Centre in Kiryat Gat, and stopping British training of Palestinian Authority troops in the West Bank.
• The full list of MPs who are now prohibited from visiting Israel includes Jeremy Corbyn, Zarah Sultana, Naz Shah, Diane Abbott, John McDonnell, Richard Burgon, Carla Denyer, Sian Berry, Ellie Chowns, Adrian Ramsay, and Hannah Spencer.

Gorton (Manchester Mirror) September 09, 2026 — Gorton and Denton MP Hannah Spencer is one of eleven MPs who have been banned from travelling to Israel following an announcement by the Israeli government on 8 September 2026. The Israeli Foreign Ministry published a list of 12 British nationals, including 11 sitting parliamentarians and campaigner Fahad Ansari, who will be denied entry to the country in a set of retaliatory steps after the UK imposed sanctions on goods produced in illegal West Bank settlements.

Who is on Israel’s banned list of British MPs?

As reported by multiple outlets including The Independent, the BBC and The National, the Israeli Foreign Ministry named the following 12 individuals: Jeremy Corbyn MP, Zarah Sultana MP, Fahad Ansari (director of Riverway to the Sea), Naz Shah MP, Diane Abbott MP, Hannah Spencer MP, Carla Denyer MP, Sian Berry MP, Ellie Chowns MP, John McDonnell MP, Richard Burgon MP and Adrian Ramsay MP. The list spans Your Party, Labour and the Green Party, with five Green Party MPs Carla Denyer, Sian Berry, Ellie Chowns, Adrian Ramsay and Hannah Spencer among those affected.

As reported by The Times of Israel, the Foreign Ministry said it would deny entry to those “involved in antisemitic and anti-Israel activity, as well as those who deny the very existence of the State of Israel”, without clarifying the specific reasoning for each individual ban. As reported by The Hereford Times, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar announced the measures as part of a broader response to the UK’s sanctions package targeting illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank.

What triggered Israel’s ban on UK MPs?

As reported by ITV News and the BBC, the bans follow a decision by the UK government, announced by Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband, to impose sanctions on goods from illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank. Miliband accused Israeli “settler terrorists” of “ethnic cleansing” in the illegally occupied West Bank, remarks that drew a sharp response from Jerusalem.

As reported by The Sun and Yahoo News, Prime Minister Andy Burnham said Britain would stand by its values after the government triggered a diplomatic row by announcing the sanctions. In response, Gideon Saar unveiled a package of counter-measures that included the travel bans on British MPs and a campaigner, the closure of the British consulate in Jerusalem, the removal of British representatives from the International Gaza Support Centre in Kiryat Gat, and an end to British activities training Palestinian Authority forces in the West Bank under the “British Support Team in Ramallah”.

How have banned MPs and parties responded?

As reported by The Telegraph and Argus, Bradford West MP Naz Shah said she had “just been informed that the Israeli Foreign Ministry has added my name to a list of 11 MPs reportedly banned from entering Israel” and described the selection as “rather random and, frankly, bizarre”. She added: “I have no idea how this list was compiled and, as many people who have already contacted me have said, the selection appears rather random and, frankly, bizarre.”

As reported by IBTimes UK and Common Dreams, several of the banned MPs have previously been outspoken critics of Israeli policies in the West Bank and Gaza, with some describing Israeli actions as “war crimes” or “genocide” in past statements. Zarah Sultana, co-founder of Your Party with Jeremy Corbyn, was highlighted in coverage as one of the prominent pro-Palestinian figures targeted by the entry prohibitions. Green Party MPs, including Hannah Spencer, have advocated for trade restrictions and accountability regarding Israeli settlement policies, according to Roya News.

What other retaliatory measures did Israel announce?

As reported by the BBC and Middle East Eye, Israel’s retaliatory steps went beyond the travel bans. The Israeli government said it would close the British consulate in occupied East Jerusalem and expel UK representatives from the International Gaza Support Centre in Kiryat Gat. British activities to train Palestinian Authority forces in the West Bank—referred to as Judea and Samaria by Israeli officials under the “British Support Team in Ramallah” will also be terminated.

As reported by The Times of Israel, the Foreign Ministry framed the measures as a response to the UK’s sanctions package against West Bank settlements, which Israel views as hostile interference. The closure of the consulate in Jerusalem marks a significant downgrade in diplomatic presence, while the end of security cooperation on training Palestinian forces represents a shift in operational ties.

Background: How did this development unfold?

The sequence began when Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband announced UK sanctions on goods from illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank, aligning Britain with other allies such as Canada and France. Miliband’s remarks accusing Israeli settlers of “ethnic cleansing” intensified the diplomatic friction. In response, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar announced a series of counter-measures on 8 September 2026, including the travel bans on 12 British nationals, the closure of the UK consulate in Jerusalem, the removal of British staff from the Gaza support centre, and the suspension of British training programmes for Palestinian forces. The Israeli Foreign Ministry subsequently published the list of those barred, naming 11 MPs from Your Party, Labour and the Green Party, alongside campaigner Fahad Ansari.

Prediction: How could this affect voters, MPs and UK–Israel relations?

For constituents in Gorton and Denton and across Greater Manchester, Hannah Spencer’s inclusion on the banned list may sharpen local debate over UK foreign policy and the Israel–Palestine conflict, with some voters viewing the ban as evidence of principled advocacy and others questioning the diplomatic cost. For the MPs named, the travel restriction limits direct engagement with Israeli officials, civil society and field visits, potentially shaping how they gather information and frame future parliamentary interventions on the region. For UK–Israel relations, the consulate closure and suspension of training cooperation signal a deeper rift that could complicate security coordination and diplomatic dialogue, even as the UK maintains its sanctions stance on settlements.