Graham Linehan to address US Congress amid 'Britain's threats to free speech' in censorship hearing

During his appearance before the House judiciary committee, Mr Linehan intends to argue that Britain's cultural establishment, including the Prime Minister, has avoided confronting culture war issues.

"Sir Keir came to power saying that he was going to end the culture war, but what he's actually done is he's hidden from it," he told The Telegraph.

He continued: "I want to point out that this elite is kind of working against the interests of working-class people.

"He has made it a million times worse, and it won't get better until he's gone."

Mr Linehan's congressional testimony follows his detention at Heathrow airport in September, when five armed police officers stopped and questioned him over gender-critical comments he had posted online.

The incident sparked a significant row over freedom of expression, with the writer pledging to hold the Metropolitan Police accountable for what he described as an attempt to silence gender-critical voices.

Scotland Yard subsequently dropped the investigation, determining that Linehan would face no further action.

Following this outcome, the comedy writer announced his intention to pursue legal action against the force.

His case has attracted attention from President Trump's administration, which has grown increasingly critical of foreign laws it views as restricting speech.

Mr Linehan's treatment is among several incidents causing concern in Washington.

The House judiciary committee conducting the hearing is chaired by Republican congressman Jim Jordan and includes several prominent Trump allies.

In August, three committee members, including Mr Jordan, visited the UK as part of their ongoing investigation into foreign censorship practices, later describing themselves as "shocked" by what they discovered.

The Trump administration has criticised Downing Street following the implementation of the Online Safety Act, which requires social media platforms to remove content deemed harmful or face penalties of up to £18million or 10 per cent of their annual revenue.

Mr Jordan said ahead of Wednesday's hearing: "Europe's censorship unfairly targets American companies and threatens American innovation."

He continued: "Graham Linehan and our other witnesses will highlight just how bad European censorship has become and what it means for American freedoms."

Linehan is not the first to testify before the committee about British speech restrictions. In September, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage appeared before the same body, raising the case of Lucy Connolly.

Mrs Connolly received a 31-month prison sentence for a social media post following the Southport attack in which she called for mass deportations and violence against hotels housing migrants.

She pleaded guilty to inciting racial hatred and was released on licence after serving more than 300 days.

Mr Linehan himself recently faced court proceedings in Britain.

At Westminster Magistrates' Court, he was cleared of harassing transgender activist Sophia Brooks on social media but was convicted of criminal damage to the campaigner's mobile phone outside a London conference.

He was fined £500 and ordered to pay £850 in costs and surcharges.