Two Britons are among individuals banned by the US accused of seeking to ‘suppress American viewpoints they oppose’.

Imran Ahmed and Clare Melford have been told they cannot enter the nation following new directives by the Trump administration.

In a written document, Secretary of State Marco Rubio explained that a total of five Europeans had been barred as their entry would risk ‘potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences’.

It claims that the five people had organised efforts to ‘coerce’ online platforms to censure viewpoints they did not like.

Mr Ahmed, who leads the Centre for Countering Digital Hate, is now suing the Trump administration over the decision to ban him.

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The former Labour adviser, who lives in Washington DC, said: ‘My life’s work is to protect children from the dangers of unregulated social media and AI and fight the spread of antisemitism online.

‘That mission has pitted me against big tech executives – and Elon Musk in particular – multiple times.

‘I am proud to call the United States my home. My wife and daughter are American, and instead of spending Christmas with them, I am fighting to prevent my unlawful deportation from my home country.’

Ms Melford is the co-founder and executive director of the Global Disinformation Index.