Reform runs away from Free Speech

[Aruntraveller]

It is becoming clearer and clearer about what Reform's definition of Free Speech is. It runs something like this: "We are allowed to say anything we want, no matter how disgraceful/outrageous/stupid it is - you are not allowed to question it"

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/aug/28/ban-on-news-outlet-by-nottinghamshire-county-council-reform-leader-a-massive-attack-on-local-democracy

[Nearly Sane]

It is becoming clearer and clearer about what Reform's definition of Free Speech is. It runs something like this: "We are allowed to say anything we want, no matter how disgraceful/outrageous/stupid it is - you are not allowed to question it"

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/aug/28/ban-on-news-outlet-by-nottinghamshire-county-council-reform-leader-a-massive-attack-on-local-democracy

The idea that the 'right' has been touting that they are in favour of free speech has always been tinged with this. Free speech is pretty well never san absolute principle for people and one of its curses is that it's an easy sound bite for people to say that they believe in free speech but they never mean. I am happy to say that I am not a believer in free speech but in speech being free within certain boundaries to be discussed.

Many many many years ago when I was on the Stidents Representative Council at university, the Labour Clud suspended me because I wouldn't vote with them in a motion to ban the SRC advertising in the student newspaper because they had not liked an editorial criticising the Labour Club  run SRC. Politics is away with this sort of hypocrisy and always has been.

[Aruntraveller]

I am happy to say that I am not a believer in free speech but in speech being free within certain boundaries to be discussed.

Agree with this.

It's the old shouting fire in a crowded theatre situation.

[Nearly Sane]

Agree with this.

It's the old shouting fire in a crowded theatre situation.

One thing that often annoys me is that sometimes people claim to be free speech absolutist byt then suggest that speech can come with certain legal consequences, which is just what the above is about.

[Steve H]

I used to know an idiot on another forum who thought free speech meant not only that he could say anything he liked, but also that no-one was allowed to disagree with him. He'd've been a natural for Reform, being also a polybigot.

[Nearly Sane]

I used to know an idiot on another forum who thought free speech meant not only that he could say anything he liked, but also that no-one was allowed to disagree with him. He'd've been a natural for Reform, being also a polybigot.

he hated parrots? Bastard.

[Aruntraveller]

he hated parrots? Bastard.

 

[Aruntraveller]

More on this from The Guardian:

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/aug/28/the-guardian-view-on-reform-uk-v-the-nottingham-post-a-councils-boycott-of-its-local-paper-is-both-petty-and-alarming

It appears to me that it is straight out of Trump's playbook. Sideline and ridicule any real scrutiny to further your own disinformation and to cover your own lack of knowledge.

[ad_orientem]

More on this from The Guardian:

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/aug/28/the-guardian-view-on-reform-uk-v-the-nottingham-post-a-councils-boycott-of-its-local-paper-is-both-petty-and-alarming

It appears to me that it is straight out of Trump's playbook. Sideline and ridicule any real scrutiny to further your own disinformation and to cover your own lack of knowledge.

Yep. Straight out of his handbook. Only invite media to your press conferences that won't criticise you, even those that were exposed as having received 400k a month to spread russian propaganda.