Freedom of speech in the UK?????

If it’s a government-run conference why should they invite someone who has openly criticised them?

Good point GSM.

I would have thought what he had to say about such a massivley important subject, with the expertise that got him invited to talk about it- would have been more important.

You will never learn anything if you only listen to people who agree with you.

Germanshepherdsmum

If it’s a government-run conference why should they invite someone who has openly criticised them?

Surely one can't seriously suggest that a scientific conference should only include those who agree with the Party currently in government?

They probably have someone equally well qualified to speak.

Apparently it was a government event. He says he is a Lib Dem. Actually I don’t see any conflict in that, except apparently he wrote Bloody Tories on his Twitter account. I suppose that’s the reason, although as an expert on this subject, I don’t think he should have been uninvited. It should have been made clear to him that this was a conference to discuss and learn about chemical weapons, and not to criticise any political party.

Exactly maddyone

Why should experts in any field be de-platformed if they criticise thje Tory Party?

We don't have freedom of speech in the UK, we have Individual liberty based on Tolerance and Respect

But obviously they don't like being disagreed with and it just looks a bit weak

Germanshepherdsmum

They probably have someone equally well qualified to speak.

and praise the party at the same time, presumably!

Their conference, their decision on who to invite.

varian

Exactly maddyone

Why should experts in any field be de-platformed if they criticise thje Tory Party?

You can say that about any deplatforming, why is it allowed to happen. University Hall or conferance room. Don't agree with any of it.

I hate de platforming, I find people who cant listen to different viewpoints incredibly weak.

bylinetimes.com/2023/05/23/i-was-cancelled-by-sunaks-government-for-criticising-them-on-twitter/

Here's the cancelled scientist.

Well in some ways the cancelled scientist, probably brilliant, is a bit of a twit.

He must be aware of the ultra cautious approach surrounding Porton Down - in fact it is a very secure biological weapons military establishment. There’s no way a potential unknown threat should be allowed access to officials /information at the conference arranged by Porton Down.

Of course the scientist can tweet away about the government to his heart’s content but don’t be surprised at consequences in the area of work he finds himself. He could so easily be working for any government…..

"Yes. I have criticized the government. So what? I am allowed to do so".
" I have rights to freedom of speech under human rights laws".

Time and again it baffles me that there are people who claim their - undoubted! - right to free speech, and yet fail to understand that the people they have criticized have an equal right to respond.

Call me a Tory and I will call you out to pistols at dawn in Hyde Park but I agree with GSM -their conference, their decision.

Jackiest

You will never learn anything if you only listen to people who agree with you.

As we on GN know so well!

He is right about people being uninvited though - and not alone!

bylinetimes.com/2023/04/26/cancelled-from-a-civil-service-talk-for-retweeting-a-liz-truss-parody-account/

I heard him speaking on the radio the other day about this.
It wasn't that he failed to understand that the people criticized have an equal right to respond.

He was clearly switched-on about choices governments are free to make and that they choose who to invite. He was, he said, sad that they were cutting off some great minds (not specifically him)... he was disappointed that they were choosing to un-invite people for reasons nothing to do with their specialism. He was saying that, as an academic his interest at a conference would be unrelated to any differences he might have with (say) the Rwanda deal.

I thought it was very strange that any government would cut off people they might benefit from.

I’m not on Twitter and never will be. From my observations it appears to cause an awful lot of trouble, which is exactly why I keep off it.

They also made a big thing about trying to ensure de platforming doesn't happen in universities so it just looks ridiculous.

I had forgotten about that Galaxy
🙄

I agree with them on stopping no platforming in universities, there have been some successful legal cases against no platforming lately.
I use this example frequently, I am a supporter of a womans right to choose, involved in an organisation that supports that, it's probably the belief that has been most consistent throughout my life, yet I can cope with the fact that some people hold different views on abortion.

Very childish and petty of the party.
I hate this word, but it’s a bit snowflakey, isn’t it?

Lots of comments make me think that you are all blissfully unaware and uninformed when it comes to issues surrounding government security. Just as well you don’t run any aspect of it.