San Francisco, CA - Talk Radio Network's Michael Savage who recently filed a defamation lawsuit against U.K. Home Secretary Jacqui Smith for placing him on a list of those barred from entering the United Kingdom has uncovered emails acknowledging the ban on him would provide 'balance' to a list dominated by Muslims. The emails linked the decision to Gordon Brown and Foreign Secretary David Miliband. The officials admitted their action could look 'duplicitous' and cited his 'homophobia' as a reason the move would receive public support. Savage is the number one drive-time talk show host in the San Francisco market and is ranked as the 3rd largest syndicated show in America, according to Talkers Magazine.

 

Jacqui Smith resigned as the United Kingdom's Home Secretary, after receiving notification from Savage's law firm regarding a defamation lawsuit. Now, correspondence released under Freedom of Information legislation suggests the banning was based on a political calculation made at the highest level of Government.

 

According to the UK Daily Mail one message, sent by an unidentified Home Office official on November 27 last year, said that, "I can understand that disclosure of the decision would help provide a balance of types of exclusion cases." The documents uncovered include a draft recommendation, marked 'Restricted', saying: "We will want to ensure that the names disclosed reflect the broad range of cases and are not all Islamic extremists."

 

A further email confirmed the decision to include Savage on the list of least wanted individuals was approved at the highest level of Government, saying: "Both the FS [Foreign Secretary] and PM [Prime Minister] are firmly behind listing and naming such people."

 

One unnamed civil servant, counseled caution, saying: "I think we could be accused of duplicity in naming him' - without explaining why - and even added that 'the fact that he is homophobic does help."

 

Savage continues to be banned from the U.K. The Press Office of the British Embassy in Washington, D.C. confirmed in an interview last week that, Michael Savage, still remains "persona non grata" in Great Britain. Savage has warned his listeners that neither he nor his attorneys have received any official indication that the ban had been lifted. Savage said, "I won't believe it until they send a letter to me confirming it."

 

A weekend newspaper report alleging the lifting of the ban appears to have been inaccurate. The press representative indicated that while no visa is required of Americans visiting England, Michael Savage, would be detained by immigration authorities if he attempted to enter the country, and refused entry. The British Home Office informed the embassy office that there has been no change in Michael Savage's ban.

 

The British Government's new Home Secretary, Alan Johnson, acted quickly after he took office by withdrawing the list of the "least wanted" people in the U.K. that Talk Radio Network's Michael Savage was included on however this did not lift the ban. Alan Johnson called the ban a terrible blunder and told the London Daily Mail he would scrap the policy of maintaining such enemies' lists. Savage said that he was "stunned by this sudden sign of sanity in the U.K. government."

 

This announcement follows the former Home Secretary Jacqui Smith admitting to Total Politics Magazine she was not up to being Home Secretary of the U.K. Smith said, "When I became Home Secretary I'd never run a major organization. I hope I did a good job but if I did it was more by luck than by any kind of development of skills." She continues by saying "I think we should have been better trained."

 

Savage hired the Olswang Law Firm to initiate libel proceedings, and, is seeking 100,000 pounds in damages. Savage also wants an apology, and a retraction of his name from the list published by Smith. Savage said, "This is an orchestrated campaign by this socialist, fascist government of hers, trying to turn me into something I am not," he added, "I spent my entire life building my reputation, and I will not have this government drag my name through the mud. I want my name cleared."

 

Before resigning, Smith indicated that she would fight the suit with a spokesperson stating, "As the Home Secretary has already said, he was excluded (banned) for engaging in unacceptable behavior by making comments that might provoke others to serious criminal acts and foster hatred that might lead to inter-community violence. Any legal proceedings would be robustly defended; we stand by our decision to exclude this individual. Coming to the UK is a privilege that we refuse to extend to those who abuse our standards and values to undermine our way of life."

 

"Michael Savage's situation has to do with free speech in the Western world, in the entire free world. We live in a global marketplace now, and when our greatest ally - Britain - looks to somehow silence an American radio personality, intentionally or otherwise, it could have tremendous impact," said Michael Harrison, founder and editor of Talkers Magazine, which tracks the U.S. talk-radio industry.

 

"The British call Michael Savage a 'shock jock.' Now the Home Office accuses and condemns him of hate mongering. The First Amendment is not always tidy. It can be messy, even. When they equate a provocative political commentator with murderers and criminals - well, this is a dangerous mistake," Mr. Harrison said.

 

"The alliances between our countries are built, in part, on the First Amendment. This may prove a very slippery slope we're on," he added.

 

The Savage Nation is a powerhouse in national syndication. An independent-minded individualist, Michael Savage fits no stereotype. He attacks big government and liberal media bias, but champions the environment and animal rights. Trained as a scientist, he holds Master's degrees in medical botany and medical anthropology and earned his Ph.D. from the University of California at Berkeley in Epidemiology and Nutrition Science.

 

Michael Savage was named 2007's recipient of TALKERS Magazine's Freedom of Speech Award. Previous recognitions for Savage include his nomination for 2007 Syndicated Talk Host of the Year by Radio and Records Magazine.

 

Michael Savage is the author of over 20 books including four NY Times Best Sellers - The Savage Nation, The Enemy Within, Liberalism is a Mental Disorder, Political Zoo, and his most recent book is Psychological Nudity, Savage Radio Stories.

 

The Michael Savage Show airs Live Monday through Friday from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. PST (6 p.m. - 9 p.m. EST).

 

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