SUNDAY COLUMN: What is free speech?

Last Sunday, I spent the afternoon at Speakers’ Corner in Hyde Park, London. You can read a review here and watch a video here.

There has of course been some discussion on social media surrounding this, and one thing I can’t help but notice, is confusion around what exactly is meant by free speech. There are those who seem to believe that being blocked on Twitter for example means being deprived of free speech. So let me explain my view on this absolutely essential civil liberty; what it is, and what it isn’t.

Free speech is a civil right. This means it is a means by which citizens in a democratic state may criticise, question, and challenge those in authority. It allows those without formal power or influence to hold the powerful to account. Last week, I was asked if free speech was limitless and my answer is no, it isn’t, but when criticising religion for example, yes, it should be entirely free. That’s because religious institutions either exercise, or seek to exercise, great power over people’s lives. This power can be exercised in the political or private realm. That’s why criticism and questioning of religion is so important, because it has power.

read the full blog at the link
https://www.forbritain.uk/2021/08/08/sunday-column-what-is-free-speech/