Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has threatened to ban all Eritreans from entering the UK if the east African country’s government does not accept more returns of small boat migrants and foreign national offenders.

From Thursday, Eritrean diplomats will face restrictions on their movement outside London. Fast-track visas will also be stopped for VIPs.

Ministers have previously pressured other countries into accepting returns by threatening visa bans.

Eritrea branded the move a “perfunctory political gimmick”, saying the UK had not issued a single visa to an Eritrean official since 2023.

The country’s embassy in London also accused the UK of refusing to engage in “meaningful and appropriate dialogue”.

It said the UK had failed to disclose the return of criminals still serving prison terms and that the UK had claimed returns were voluntary “when clearly, they were not”.

Human Rights Watch has accused Eritrea’s government of widespread repression – including forced labour, conscription and restrictions on freedom of expression.

Eritreans were the most common nationality among small boats migrants in the 12 months to June – accounting for 18% of arrivals, according to figures from the House of Commons Library.