Trump sends free-speech team to interview UK pro life campiagners

Last time I looked, I wasn't a free speech absolutist, nor would I ever be. However, harassing women as they go into medical facilities isn't free speech and never was, any more than it's free speech to send 2,000 texts in a week to your ex asking her to take you back, or the old classic of shouting 'Fire!' in a crowded theatre. Those who want to restrict abortion rights even further in the UK can meet freely with their peers to discuss campaigns, can go and 'silently pray' outside Parliament, whatever else they like. But they can stay away from clinics. Oh and the ones who tell us all to go and burn hotels down can fuck off* as well.

*Just a reminder that we used to get the occasional American on Mumsnet telling us off for swearing. It's a profoundly different culture.

I’m not sure that that many do believe in absolute free speech.

But even if you do, and even if you disagree with exclusion zones, they’re not such a danger to freedom that they warrant another country getting involved.

Should the UK gov send officials to interview women in the US due to concerns we have around their safety given their restrictive abortion laws, and to “affirm the importance of women’s health across America”? Or would Trump maybe view that as unreasonable involvement of a foreign government in his national and state laws?

Trump can fuck off. Especially as he gives not a single shit about actual free speech for everyone.

I agree with the Lucy Connelly case, it's totally insane that she should have been charged with a crime, let a lone sentenced.

As for the other's if the were praying silently, it can't be a free speech issue surely, don't you have to speak to make it a free speech issue. I don't have a problem with them being arrested, it's an exclusion zone, they know they not suppose to be doing that in it, they chose to ignore that, and they paid the price. As the say on the YouTube they FAFO.

These cases may have been brought up during trade deal negotiations, but the the West has been bring up human rights with China in negotiations for years and it didn't stop deals being made, I don't think these cases will stop a deal being made with the UK either.

I agree with this disagreement.

In a general sense, despite the complaints of many, we enjoy a comparatively high level of free speech in this country; but that does not - and should not - mean our speech is free from consequences.

In a specific sense, I think the fact we have legislated to introduce exclusion zones around abortion clinics is absolutely right and reasonable. No woman, especially those who are already stressed and possibly traumatised by events, should have to risk being harassed when using these vital services.

In that specific purpose, stating your free speech is being curtailed is exactly equal to stating "The law has taken away my right to be a vile human being towards women".

I disagree. You have the right to say what ever you want but that doesn't include forcing me to listen which is what the exclusion zones do. It gives me a space to not have to listen while going about my lawful business.

I don't agree with this, and I'm not someone who's come here to scold.

But if you do believe in absolute free speech (as some here say they do), surely these zones are an affront to that belief?

I hate Trump and Musk but there is a logic to this.

Isn’t it ‘interesting’ that the peg on which Trump is letting Musk hang his supposed free speech hat is opposition to legal abortions?

I find it fascinating the US are using the issue of free speech as a tariff bargaining-tool. They have done this in other countries as well. The very fact they feel they can have a say in the policies of other nations is pure hubris.

I hate lowering the tone of your thread, @IwantToRetire, but I do wish Trump would fuck off and leave the UK alone.