Connie Shaw from the Free Speech Union has claimed on GB News that British police forces are “acting like the Stasi” after Nigel Farage issued a dire free speech warning.
The Reform UK leader was invited to speak in Congress about the state of Britain, which he likened to North Korea.
Ms Shaw said on the People’s Channel that he was right to do so, as she launched a tirade about the work her campaign group is doing to preserve freedom of speech in Britain.
“It’s very obvious that the police do not understand the law,” she said.
Ms Shaw said Mr Farage was right to compare Britain to North Korea
|GB NEWS / POOL
“Organisations like Stonewall have corrupted the police to the point where even Mark Rowley has warned that there’s an issue with culture wars being policed.
“We need to go back to policing our streets, not our tweets, a phrase we used at the Free Speech Union which is now being used by Wes Streeting.
“Our police are acting like the Stasi. How many more cases do we have to see? How many times do we have to fight for compensation for people?”
Ms Shaw said on the People’s Channel that there is now an “avalanche” of evidence mounting to suggest freedom of speech is in jeopardy.
Connie Shaw spoke to GB News about the state of freedom of speech in Britain
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She cited Government acts which she believes are a blatant attempt to stifle uncensored opinions.
“We are doing everything we can to stop this avalanche — not just with the police, but with legislation this Government is looking to pass,” she said.
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“Whether it’s the new Islamophobia definition, the Prevent programme, the Online Safety Act, or the fact we had to threaten the Government with judicial review just to make them implement the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act.
“Days before the High Court was due to hear the case, Bridget Phillipson decided they were going to implement it, but it was still watered down.
Nigel Farage exposes Keir Starmer's 'war on freedom' to America in dire free speech warning
“There is nothing this Government hasn’t done to try and stop free speech prospering in this country.”
Appearing in front of American lawmakers, Mr Farage sounded the alarm about Britain’s approach to regulating online expression.
He told the US House Judiciary Committee that the Online Safety Act is a particularly troubling area.
The Reform UK leader’s appearance was not without its hitches, as Democrat representative Jamie Raskin furiously confronted him with a scathing personal attack.
Nigel Farage spoke at a committee in Congress
|GB NEWS
Mr Raskin branded Mr Farage a “Putin-loving, free speech imposter and Trump sycophant” during the proceedings.
Mr Farage hit back with a sarcastic “Charming” remark before dismissing the criticism entirely.
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“You can say what you like, I don’t care,” he told the committee.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting told GB News yesterday he was open to potential law changes, admitting he fears too much legislation has perhaps overcomplicated the issue.
“If we are looking at things the police are doing and thinking ‘that doesn’t seem right, fair or proportionate’, that is on us as legislators to sort out,” Mr Streeting explained.
The minister highlighted how legislation introduced with positive aims can create unforeseen difficulties for law enforcement. “People often legislate with good intentions but don’t always see unintended consequences,” he noted.
Mr Streeting suggested that accumulated legal changes have placed increasing demands on police forces.
“It’s fair to say that, over the years, there have been well-meaning changes to the law, but you pile on expectations to the police,” he stated.