The UK does not have "free speech" it has "freedom of expression" limited by the laws that control "free speech".
The UK legal system balances freedom of expression with public interest, safety, and the rights of others. This ensures that certain forms of expression that could cause harm—like incitement to violence or criminal behavior—can be restricted.
We can compare the UK's framework to that of countries like the United States, where the First Amendment provides much broader protections for free speech with fewer legal limitations.
It is then easy to see that, while the UK operates under a different legal philosophy regarding speech some seem to expect the US laws on "free speech" to override our law.
This cannot be allowed to happen. It us an insult to our democracy. We cannot allow our country to be treated as an offshoot to the USA. The UK is a fully independent sovereign state and I would expect those elected as MPs to defend Parliamentary sovereignty, which is not dictated by the individual MP, but by Parliament and government.
Just being cynical but why would he bother ? The similarities with the 1930s are there though. Talented speakers who are opposed to the government receiving increasing amounts of support, ineffective people in positions of power, anti Semitism, a struggling populace blaming previous administrations for financial difficulties.
nanna8 nothing like the 1930s - it’s all a big wind up by the msm. Complete nonsense and fiction most of the time. Just a few months ago we all were told that Putin was going to attack London. Well he still might but … so much reporting seems divorced from reality.
Some scary people around just now. Horrible echoes of the 1930 s.
Just seen Musk's father interviewed on tv that man is as mad as a box of frogs and as dangerous as Hitler
Hideous absolutely hideous
As I said.
Interesting times
And where does that leave NATO in the unlikely event that Trump invades Greenland? Trump hasn’t even been sworn in…. So much for not fighting foreign wars.
I think it is more because of the wealth of their natural resources.
Yes, indeed...interesting times!
With ice caps melting, will Greenland soon have more land exposed? Perhaps Trump is thinking ahead and wants control of the country before the Russians take it over.
The Canadian story is from Trump who suggested that Canada could be the 51st state.
But you need to look to Panama and Greenland first as a forced takeover with use of the military is being threatened by Trump.
Interesting times
Some news outlets are reporting on a story that Canada will be part of the USA Wwm2. Whether fiction or fact?
You are jumping ahead of yourselves.
Trump is starting by threatening to annex the Panama canal and Greenland.
nanna8 I can almost understand Canada being part of America- shared borders etc but Trump is too business minded to want the Uk surely? Far too much of an economic mess- why would Trump bother?
Likely that Republicans would never win an election again with Canada as 51st ? No chance of it happening??
Perhaps Musk and Trump see things as coming full circle and want to make the UK the 51 st state of the USA? Canada the 52 nd ? Maybe Putin is their role model. I wouldn’t be totally surprised.
We cannot allow our country to be treated as an offshoot to the USA
Horrifying thought!
First they came for Greenland .. then ?
PoliticsNerd
wibblywobblywobblebo
ttom Free speech and freedom of expression are one and the same.
No, they are not.
According to Amnesty International:
Is freedom of speech a human right?
In the UK, Article 10 of the 1998 Human Rights Act protects our right to freedom of expression:
Everyone has the right to freedom of expression. This right shall include freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart information and ideas without interference by public authority and regardless of frontiers.
Are freedom of speech and freedom of expression the same thing? In the UK, freedom of speech is legally one part of the wider concept of freedom of expression.
Does freedom of speech have limits?
You might not expect us to say this, but in certain circumstances free speech and freedom of expression can be restricted.
Governments have an obligation to prohibit hate speech and incitement. These are dangerous. Restrictions can also be justified if they protect specific public interest or the rights and reputations of others.
So Freedom of Speech is part of the wider concept of Freedom of Expression, but there are certain limitations.
If Musk wants to air his opinions about the UK, he should move here and become a UK citizen. Otherwise, he should mind his own business. His father seems to think that the Musk family has some entitlement to make comments because they have British ancestors! I dare say he has never even visited this country, yet he seems to think that we share a common culture. Not so!
I did explain the differences in the OP but I'll summarise for you.
While both the UK and the USA value the principles of freedom of expression and free speech, the approach and legal frameworks differ considerably. The U.S. tends to offer broader protections for individual speech rights with fewer restrictions, whereas the UK allows for more regulation with a focus on balance between individual expression and societal interests.
I would suggest that behaving like an American in the UK, and assuming a right to free speech could well get the person into trouble.
wibblywobblywobblebo
ttom Free speech and freedom of expression are one and the same.
No, they are not.
On a thread on rape someone is saying think about the men.
LizzieDrip
^I was glad to see that Starmer defended himself and Jess Phillips without mentioning Musk once. This disruptive man should be ignored^
AGAA4 agreed!
I also like the way Starmer called out the MSM for ‘amplifying’ the lies and misinformation spewed out on X.
He spoke passionately, saying ‘a line has been crossed’ and he will continue to challenge the lies. Well said PM👏
👏👏👏👏👏
Babs03, women commit sex abuse too, and men can be victims of rape as well as perpetrators. Let's not substitute one form of discrimination for another. The people who are responsible for rape are rapists. Not men as a group.
Free speech and freedom of expression are one and the same.
I was glad to see that Starmer defended himself and Jess Phillips without mentioning Musk once. This disruptive man should be ignored
AGAA4 agreed!
I also like the way Starmer called out the MSM for ‘amplifying’ the lies and misinformation spewed out on X.
He spoke passionately, saying ‘a line has been crossed’ and he will continue to challenge the lies. Well said PM👏
Sorry, i realise that my PP does not cover the OP, but drags up things we have discussed on other threads.
Re; the post: I agree, too many people, such as Farage, who does know better, throw around expressions which are guaranteed to fan the flames. This is nothing knew, we all remember the 'bogus asylum seekers' and 'benefit cheats' type headlines. This is similar to the Reform party stirring up people about the Manchester airport incident when they knew perfectly well that all charges have to be considered by the CPS and that by making public comments before a trial they were jeopardising the actual process. Some of the public may not realise the procedure, but one has to assume that MPs do. On the assumption that Farage et al do know how the criminal process works, I can only assume that the performance they put on was deliberately inflammatory, and that they consider their supporters too stupid to know better.
Badenoch especially, as she was responsible for two years 2022 to 2024 on women and equalities in the government after the 2022 report was published and the failure to really tackle it.
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