1st February 2011
We Need To Speak Our Mind!
Mark Hanson
In July of 2010 a leading think-tank, Civitas, released a report on the dire state of free speech in the UK. Many voices have been raised by various sections of society that the taken-for-granted right to freedom of speech no longer exists in the way that we once knew it.
The rot set in with the passing of the Public Order Act by the previous Conservative government in the 1980’s. This outlawed speech that could be regarded as “insulting” if it were based on certain criteria. The Christian Institute is calling for the word “insulting” to be removed, yet even if it is, there are far more pieces of law that curtail free speech.
Only the most hardened civil libertarian would desire total free speech. There needs to be certain restrictions – for example, in cases where a person incites others to undertake violent crime. Yet the plethora of laws has become so widespread that Jon Gower Davies, of Civitas, said:
“It becomes "wise" to "be careful", to restrict the compass of what we say about what we believe, or do not believe, or about what others believe or do not or should not believe, and to turn what were once vigorous public conversations into a frightened, if safe, if amiable and fundamentally humourless chat about small and dwindling things.”
Laws such as the Racial and Religious Hatred Act 2006 have seen the State enter into the realm of which religious beliefs are acceptable, which may be discussed, and which are proscribed. Subsequent pieces of legislation have seen homosexuals being protected against having their feelings hurt; people in Scotland being prevented from free vigorous political debate, even within their own home; and the prevention of political discourse, religious expression and the airing of views concerning areas that the State decrees are no go areas.
Rabel is proposing that there be a section in the Freedom (Great Repeal) Bill, shortly passing through Parliament, that would set on the statute book a declared right to freedom of speech. Except in particular and extreme circumstances, this proposed section would ensure that no-one is arrested or charged for the expression of views, opinions and beliefs.
Please join me in this campaign.
You can publicise the campaign by printing our free leaflet, and there is a sample letter to write to your MP.
This section, which can be viewed here (pdf), could be introduced as an amendment, either in the Commons or the Lords. It is an opportunity not to be missed.
