12th May 2010
Freedom of Speech in the UK – Campaign Article
The state of free speech in the United Kingdom is at a low ebb. Various pieces of legislation, primarily introduced by the previous Labour government, are being used with increasing regularity against those expressing views and opinions that differ from the accepted standards.
Whilst it remains true that certain expressions, certain views, and certain opinions are abhorrent and hate-filled, and Rabel does not in any way support the use of speech to engender hate, we do assert that it is the democratic liberty of every person to express their opinion, however unpalatable that view may be to others.
When the State, based on an almost religious political dogma, starts to dictate which views can or can’t be vocalised, we have embarked on a dangerous and totalitarian path, which leads, eventually, to the outlawing of views and beliefs that do not fit in with the political variance of the day.
To the shame of Britain, the UK has already travelled some distance along this path. The police are now arresting people, not for any normal crime, but for the sole charge that they have publicly expressed views that differ from that of the ruling elite. Two Christian street preachers have recently been arrested, and one was convicted, of what have become known as “hate crimes”: an expression of a view contrary to the prevailing political and societal norm.
This attack on the freedom of speech does not apply only to Christian believers, but has seen its expression in the election campaign where there was an almost tangible forbiddance to debate immigration for the fear of being called racist. Political debates are further hindered in that the expression of some political views is now a criminal act.
There are two main offending pieces of legislation. The first is the Racial and Religious Hatred Act 2006. The second is the Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008. The effect of these pieces of legislation is that the expression of certain opinions and even facts (such as the assertion that the Bible teaches that homosexuality is a sin) are now regarded as criminal acts. There have been convictions in these areas, although the full scope or limitation of such laws has not been fully set by the courts.
Rabel is proposing that there be legislation introduced that will set in law the freedom of speech, with very specific exceptions such as the incitement to violence, treasonable offences, or the incitement to cause actual harm to another beyond the expression or holding of views, beliefs or opinion. There would also need to be a continuing method of redress for those who suffer libellous, slanderous or insupportably defamatory language, but these matters are best dealt with through the civil courts.
The proposed legislation would supersede all other pieces of legislation
and set on a statutory basis the right of every person in the UK, whether citizen or foreign visitor, to express freedom of speech without fear of arrest, harassment or surveillance.
