The Decline of Free Speech: How the UK Became a Third-Class Nation

[Social Media]

 

A global index assessing freedom of expression has placed the UK shockingly low, ranking it in the third tier below nations like Chile, Jamaica, and most Western European countries. This assessment, conducted by the advocacy group Index on Censorship, attributes the UK's decline to a “chilling effect” caused by government policies, policing practices, and the intimidation of journalists. As a parliamentarian, I find this deeply troubling and humiliating. It compels us to ask: how did we get here, and what can be done to reverse this trend?

 

One concerning factor is the police’s overzealous recording of non-crime hate incidents. These are not criminal acts and have no legislative requirement but are actions deemed to cause discomfort. Cases include interrogations over tweeting feminist lyrics or refusing entry to a guide dog in a shop. Such incidents underscore a drift toward policing thought rather than crime, a scenario Orwell himself might have satirized had he been alive.

 

The erosion of free speech is also evident in universities, traditionally bastions of intellectual debate. Kathleen Stock, a professor at Sussex University, faced relentless harassment and was forced to resign for asserting a biological reality: that men cannot become women and vice versa. In another instance, the lack of action against extremists who threatened a teacher at Batley Grammar School for showing a depiction of the Prophet Mohammed starkly contrasts the attention given to trivial non-crime incidents. Threatening someone’s life is undeniably unlawful; producing images, regardless of their controversial nature, is not.

 

Equally alarming is the intimidation faced by journalists and public figures. Former Labour MP Ian Austin, now Lord Austin, was interrogated by police for referring to Hamas as “Islamists,” despite the group being a proscribed organization advocating genocidal aims. Such actions raise questions about whether free speech is being stifled under the guise of protecting sensibilities. As MPs, our right to speak freely in Parliament is protected by the 1689 Bill of Rights, but the press and public enjoy no such guarantees.

 

The role of the press as the Fourth Estate is indispensable in holding power to account. The exposure of the MPs’ expenses scandal by *The Telegraph* is a prime example of this. Although the scandal was a painful chapter for Parliament, it led to improved accountability. The intrusion into the home of *Telegraph* journalist Allison Pearson on Remembrance Sunday highlights how press freedoms are under siege. This incident, reminiscent of authoritarian practices, prompted me to raise the issue during Prime Minister’s Questions. Public reaction suggests widespread agreement that police resources are better spent tackling real crimes like shoplifting and burglary, which currently have abysmal resolution rates.

 

Criticism of the government for failing to enforce the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act and the Left's tendency toward moral authoritarianism further complicate the issue. Free speech and press freedom should transcend political lines, serving as tools for justice and democracy, particularly for the disenfranchised. Constituents often approach me for advice on engaging the media to amplify their struggles, underscoring the press's critical role in bridging the gap between citizens and the state.

 

As Thomas Jefferson, the third president of the United States, aptly stated, “The basis of our governments being the opinion of the people the very first object should be to keep that right; and were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter.” These words serve as a timeless reminder of the value of free speech and press freedom, ideals we must strive to uphold for the sake of our democracy.

 

Graham Stringer is the Labour MP for Blackley and Middleton South

 

Based on a report by Daily Telegraph 2024-11-23

 

 

 

[thaibeachlovers]

Last desperate flailings of a governmental system descending into impotence. If they can't stop people criticizing them, stop the people saying anything through intimidation.

 

The worst part of all this is that the police have been exposed as government lackeys, and not as the independent, unbiased organisation they are supposed to be.

They can't prevent crime, but they are pretty top gun at harassing people with the "wrong" speech.