Evan wins Secularist of the Year 2009
We may be only five weeks into 2009, but Lib Dem MP Evan Harris has already won an award – Secularist of the Year. The BBC reports: The Liberal Democrat was named joint winner, with Lord Avebury, for...
View ArticleWas Chris Huhne right to say Geert Wilders should be banned from the UK?
As the BBC reports: A Dutch MP who called the Koran a “fascist book” has been sent back to the Netherlands after attempting to defy a ban on entering the UK. Freedom Party MP Geert Wilders had been...
View ArticleOpinion: Fitna
What is the matter with Chris Huhne? On the great freedom-of-speech versus right-to-offend argument, he has always struck just about the right note – for instance, on Holocaust denial and the Danish...
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Opinion: Criminal laws are freezing out freedom of speech
Much has been made of the “chilling effect” of British defamation laws on public debate in recent years. Given that backdrop, the lack of furore over our criminal, as opposed to civil, regulations of...
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Opinion: Does the Prime Minister really care about free speech?
The Prime Minister is concerned that Leveson’s “essential” legislative underpinning for press self-regulation would cross a line. “We should be wary of any legislation that has the potential to...
View ArticleOpinion: Liberals must think of ways to incentivise free expression
View image | gettyimages.com The recent withdrawal of The Interview from general theatrical release (later followed by online publication and limited release at selected theatres), following threats...
View ArticleCharlie Hebdo – in sympathy and solidarity
View image | gettyimages.com The news from Paris today is deeply shocking. There are twelve people who are reported dead and four reported injured by the attack at the offices of satirical magazine,...
View ArticleOpinion: Let’s look at the harm caused by Page 3
Given that Page 3 wasn’t in The Sun this week, it sure took up a lot of media space, especially among Lib Dems. Maybe I shouldn’t be surprised that loads of us want to wade into a fight that was framed...
View ArticleOpinion: Freedom of speech?
Southampton University is under attack: it is planning a conference on ‘International Law and the State of Israel: Legitimacy, Responsibility and Exceptionalism’ in April. Paris University has been...
View ArticleBanning the Lord’s prayer – how outrageous (if it were true)
The tabloids do love a good moan about how Christians are persecuted in this country. It’s lost on them that representatives of the faith enjoy a privileged position in our Parliament and national...
View ArticleLibLink: Nick Clegg: Free speech must not be the victim in fighting extremism
In this week’s Standard column, Nick Clegg looks at the controversy surrounding Donald Trump and Tyson Fury and questions the knee jerk reactions that call for them to be banned: But there are always...
View ArticleWe should demand free speech but use it with kindness
Free speech is important to us as Liberals. So much so we made it a fundamental human right. The freedom to exchange ideas and challenge orthodoxy is what leads to new radical plans to make a better...
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