Conservative Party Leader Kemi Badenoch Warns of Threat to Free Speech in Britain

Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has issued a stark warning that free speech in Britain is "under threat" due to an overreach in the law's regulation of public opinion. Her comments, made to the Sunday Telegraph, echo concerns raised by US Vice President JD Vance, who recently stated that freedom of expression is "in retreat" across Britain and wider Europe.

Badenoch urged Britons to "fight" for free speech, emphasising its importance in challenging dangerous orthodoxies and sparking change. "Free speech is precious, and under threat," she said. "We must fight for it. It challenges dangerous orthodoxies and sparks change".

The Tory leader expressed particular concern over what she perceives as the government's overreach in attempting to protect people from "perceived" harm. "Rules to protect people from perceived harm have overreached," Badenoch explained. "Being upset or offended shouldn't be the state's concern". 

Reactionary scuffling by politicians, compromise the truth about who are the victims of social crimes. Perpetrators of instigation and attacks are recieving undue supportive attention, and this conceals and sustains ongoing illegal actions.

At nationalmedia.uk and ukreform.org.uk, there is a growing awareness that the so-called "perceived harm" is often directed not at those making false reports, but by those consistently making  false reports and attempting to silence and oppress people of longstanding British citizenship, as well as those who have settled here more recently, and contribute to our society.

Badenoch further emphasized that silencing free speech harms democracy, culture, and individual resilience. "Without free speech, false ideas thrive unchallenged," she said, and assures us that it is essential for the health of our democracy and the well-being of our society.

Vice President JD Vance's comments, made at the Munich Security Conference in February, highlighted the erosion of free speech as a greater threat to the UK than external powers like Russia or China. He noted a shift away from democratic values across Europe, particularly pointing out that "the basic liberties of religious Britons, in particular, are under threat."

Speaking at the same conference, Vance said, "Our very dear friends the United Kingdom", appear to have seen a, "backslide in conscience rights." His remarks underscore the growing international concern over the state of free speech in Britain and its implications for democratic values.

As the debate over free speech continues, Badenoch's call to action serves as a rallying cry for those who believe in the importance of open and robust public discourse. The challenge, she argues, is to strike a balance between protecting individuals from harm and preserving the fundamental right to express diverse and sometimes controversial opinions.