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Freedom of speech

(568 Posts)
Christinefrance Mon 06-Feb-17 19:32:14

I've just heard that the Speaker Mr Bercow wants to ban Donald Trump from speaking in the House. Whilst not in agreement with most of the Donald 's ideas I do believe in the freedom of speech. What do others think ?

GracesGranMK2 Tue 07-Feb-17 10:21:05

Members of her party seem very miffed Ana and Roses so that has led me to believe she expect this offer to be made. However, you (who always back with facts of course) could easily be right and I may well be wrong in this instance.

City84 Tue 07-Feb-17 10:18:27

Freedom of speech seems to be allowed only if you agree with the majority! It seems to be perfectly acceptable to protest against Donald Trump, but if you employ your ' freedom ' of speech, and state that you are ' for ' him, you are very quickly turned upon, and shouted down!
I have NEVER in all my years seen such mass hysteria, and hypocrisy!
President Obama banned ALL Syrians from entering America for SIX months in 2011 ! Where were all the protesters then? I suspect they could not really care less! They just want to join the latest mindless mob, and not really have any idea of why, and not bother to find out what is REALLY going on in America!

GracesGranMK2 Tue 07-Feb-17 10:18:23

"I think Mr Speaker is the one who's out of order here." It would be nice to hear an informed opinion Kim19. Why and how is he "out of order"? Just disagreeing with what you want does not do it I'm afraid.

Jalima Tue 07-Feb-17 10:18:04

So Javid is correct then when he says Bercow does not represent the Government

thatbags I enjoyed that

It won't happen, though. Neither side will push for it. He just thinks he is Royal and does not seem to think much of democracy.

Ana Tue 07-Feb-17 10:16:59

Exactly, as I asked before...

GracesGranMK2 Tue 07-Feb-17 10:16:25

"In my opinion Bercow is full of his own importance" And in this country you are allowed to hold that view Queenie but it doesn't mean freedom of speech has been curtailed in any way.

rosesarered Tue 07-Feb-17 10:14:25

GGM2 you say that ' it was high handed of T May to go ahead with this without consulting others in Parliament'
Go ahead with what?
Invite Trump on a State Visit/ invite Trump to visit Westminster/ invite him to speak in Westminster Hall ? surely she did not invite him to speak, as very few are invited to do so.
If a visit to Westminster is part of the State Visit, then why not, as all others invited on State Visits surely do visit Westminster as well?
Unless Trump had been invited to speak in Westminster Hall already, Bercow was a bit previous in decrying it....so what is actually going on?

MaizieD Tue 07-Feb-17 10:14:00

Everyone isn''t allowed to speak at Westminster. It's by invitation of Parliament only. If people don't like the choice of invitees they can object by contacting their MP and setting out their objections. If enough people complained the House would have to note and respond.

People are also able to exercise their right to demonstrate against Parliament's choice and to make their feelings known in the media. That is part of Free Speech; the ability to criticise the government without any fear of reprisal.

Ana Tue 07-Feb-17 10:13:10

Why, in this instance? Has Trump actually been invited to speak? Was it ever intended that he would be?

Bercow is just showing off.

MaizieD Tue 07-Feb-17 10:08:25

Bercow has a perfect right to exercise his authority.

Ankers Tue 07-Feb-17 10:05:10

Strangely I am not totally comfortable with everyone being allowed to speak at Westminster, or invited to speak, or whichever it is.
Not have too much of a trouble with Trump.

But is there no line to be drawn whatsoever?

Ana Tue 07-Feb-17 10:04:44

Very few people have been invited to speak in this way and it was high-handed of T May to go ahead with this without consulting others in Parliament.

Has she? I haven't seen any evidence that Theresa May or anyone else told Trump he could speak in the House.

It seems to be just Bercow throwing his auhority about again.

Kim19 Tue 07-Feb-17 10:04:18

I think Mr Speaker is the one who's out of order here.

whitewave Tue 07-Feb-17 10:02:17

Javid said Bercow wasn't representing the Government - err no- he represents Parliament. Fundamental error Javid.

quEEEniE Tue 07-Feb-17 10:00:20

In my opinion Bercow is full of his own importance

GracesGranMK2 Tue 07-Feb-17 09:59:22

your not you {big sigh]

radicalnan Tue 07-Feb-17 09:58:40

Freedom of speech, are the bringing that in?

They are all hypocrites and liars and 'freedoms' seem to apply mostly to those in fancy dress.......it was highly inappropriate for him to have a rant, while we are paying him to do a job.

I was also disappointed, that he was so ridiculous inviting the baby in for the Brexit vote........is is beyond an MP's organisational skills, that she ask someone to hold her child for a few minutes while she walks through the voting procedure?

Maybe he felt more comfortable when there was someone of his own stature, physically and emotionally present.

Small man syndrome at its very worst.

They are all on the pay roll, their childcare etc needs to be done out of the office as does ranting and any other emotional outburst.

It is not the senior debating society it is the mother of all parliaments.........grrrrrrrrrrrrrr

GracesGranMK2 Tue 07-Feb-17 09:56:48

I believe in freedom of speech too Christinefrance and you can say what you like in you own or a public space but I may choose not to invite you into my home among my friends. That is not banning public speech.

Very few people have been invited to speak in this way and it was high-handed of T May to go ahead with this without consulting others in Parliament. She is not (yet) a dictator; parliamentary democracy is not one person.

MawBroon Tue 07-Feb-17 09:55:25

Anniebach that is unfair, unkind and totally without any justification whatsoever. My MIL was a lovely kind lady so why she should be pilloried for objecting to HW's Gannex I cannot imagine.
It was Cherie's expression not her face I spoke of, so I hope you are ashamed of suggesting any intolerance of disfigurement on my MIL's part. And it wasn't her Bp anyway.
angryangryangry
Roses a "covert coat" is one of those smooth-faced (coat, not wearer!) coats with a velvet collar, much worn by trainers at the races.

Lewlew Tue 07-Feb-17 09:54:28

Rein him in is what they cannot seem to do! Hopefully the removal of the ban will hold up in the appeal. Likely it will go to the Supreme Court, but since judges from the Appellate usually are not overturned, I think it will hold. It's hard to get the SC to take on a case and takes a long time.

gillybob Tue 07-Feb-17 09:53:15

Exactly thatbags complete hypocrisy. And don't let's even start naming some of the evil despots the queen has shaken hands with, met, entertained and dined with.

Jaycee5 Tue 07-Feb-17 09:51:41

Most foreign leaders who come to this Country do not speak in Parliament. It is actually fairly rare.
I think it is too early to judge how Trump will behave when Republicans realise that they have to rein him in but if a decision has to be made now, then it seems the right one.
His freedom of speech isn't affected. He seems to use twitter for that.

Lewlew Tue 07-Feb-17 09:50:47

www.rt.com/uk/376443-donald-trump-state-visit/

US President Donald Trump is not interested in addressing Parliament during his state visit to the UK, and instead wants to focus on the pomp and ceremony Britain affords foreign leaders, government officials planning his stay say. Sources told the Guardian that Trump has expressed no interest in speaking at Westminster. However, it’s understood that he does want “high visibility visits with key members of the Royal family.”

Lewlew Tue 07-Feb-17 09:46:23

You are maybe missing a point... he is not a speech maker. If if happens, it would be all of 10 mins if that! I think it's more likely he might just send the House a Tweet. grin

And he will not take and questions or make himself available to the press. Bush didn't come to the House. London was on lock-down when he came. Trump? Likely the same... might just want to avoid the whole thing and just want to have tea with the Queen and giver her the saddles he's making for the royals. He does dinners and drinks very well with his NYC society experience.
wink

Anniebach Tue 07-Feb-17 09:42:12

Gosh MawBroon, did she freak out when faced with anyone with a facial deformity? Shudder to think what a PM who had suffered the loss of an eye did to her blood pressure