New polling has revealed that most Britons believe the government only protects free speech it agrees with, reports BritPanorama.
The survey, commissioned by the human rights organisation Liberty and conducted by pollsters More in Common, found that 54 per cent of Britons believe the government protects only speech it finds acceptable. This comes in the wake of police arrests of supporters of the controversially proscribed group Palestinian Action protesting outside the Labour Party conference in Liverpool.
Liberty described these findings as a “very clear warning sign” to Prime Minister Andy Burnham, suggesting that they fuel accusations of a two-tier enforcement of free speech laws. This issue had previously plagued Burnham’s predecessor, Sir Keir Starmer, who faced similar scrutiny over perceptions of biased policing concerning social media users.
According to Liberty, the polling results are “deeply concerning,” particularly given that the key aspect of freedom of speech valued by Britons is the ability to criticise the government. Over recent years, government actions—including protest restrictions and arrests for online communications—have contributed to diminishing trust in the safeguarding of free speech.
Luke Tryl, director of More in Common, articulated that concerns about free speech intersect political divides, noting that citizens cherish their ability to openly critique those in power without fear of repercussions. “Of the concerns Britons raise about free speech, one tops the list for voters of every major party — that the laws are not applied consistently to everyone,” he added.
The survey revealed that 29 per cent of respondents worry about the inconsistent application of free speech laws. Additionally, 26 per cent believe that some individuals enjoy greater freedoms than others when it comes to expression. Concerns about potential arrests for online statements were echoed by over 20 per cent of respondents, with nearly 10 million people reportedly feeling they need to self-censor their speech.
Liberty’s director, Akiko Hart, emphasised the crucial role of free speech in a healthy democracy and warned that the current climate could deepen societal divisions and distrust in political institutions. She stated, “If anything, it does the complete opposite. It makes our society more polarised and our country more divided.” The call to action for the government is clear: uphold the principle of free speech for all.
These findings reflect a complex landscape in which citizens are increasingly uneasy about the state of political discourse and the enforcement of laws governing free expression.
