LONDON: The arrest of an Emmy award-winning comedy author for allegedly insulting transgender folks on-line has reignited a UK row over freedom of speech, with Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Wednesday (Sep 3) urging police to “deal with essentially the most severe points”.
Irish author Graham Linehan, who co-created the favored Nineteen Nineties sitcom Father Ted, says he was arrested by 5 armed officers at London’s Heathrow Airport on Monday over social media posts.
London’s Metropolitan Police mentioned a person was arrested after arriving on a flight from the US on suspicion of inciting violence in relation to posts on X.
“It’s routine for officers policing airports to hold firearms. These weren’t drawn or used at any level throughout the arrest,” the drive mentioned.
Nigel Farage, an ally of US President Donald Trump whose Reform Get together is main within the UK polls, mentioned he would increase the case, and others, when he offers proof to Congress on Capitol Hill on Wednesday.
“The Graham Linehan case is one more instance of the struggle on freedom within the UK,” he mentioned forward of his look in entrance of the Home Judiciary Committee.
“Free speech is below assault, and I’m urging the USA to be vigilant.”
Starmer advised parliament on Wednesday that “we’ve got a protracted historical past of free speech on this nation” and that “we should make sure the police deal with essentially the most severe points”.
However Metropolitan Police chief Mark Rowley mentioned that the legislation wanted altering and that officers would now pursue social media posts solely “the place there’s a clear danger of hurt or dysfunction”.
“The place there’s ambiguity by way of intent and hurt, policing has been left between a rock and a tough place by successive governments who’ve given officers no selection however to file such incidents as crimes once they’re reported,” he added.
“I do not imagine we must be policing poisonous tradition wars debates,” he added.
“TOTALITARIANISM”
Linehan mentioned the arrest was associated to 3 messages despatched on X.
In one of many posts, he mentioned that “if a trans-identified male is in a female-only area, he’s committing a violent, abusive act”.
“Make a scene, name the cops and if all else fails, punch him within the balls,” he mentioned.
The arrest as soon as once more targeted consideration on the UK’s speech legal guidelines.
