Tensions over free speech between Britain and America could threaten the "special relationship," Republican strategist Matthew Hurtt has claimed.
These concerns materialised during a February meeting in the Oval Office, where Vice President JD Vance directly confronted Prime Minister Keir Starmer about Britain's approach to free speech.
During the meeting earlier this year, sitting across from Starmer alongside President Donald Trump, Vance delivered a pointed warning about what he described as excessive technology regulation.
"We also know that there have been infringements on free speech that actually affect not just the British of course what the British do in their own country is up to them but also affect American technology companies and, by extension, American citizens," Vance told reporters.
Tensions over free speech between Britain and America could threaten the "special relationship"
GB NEWS
Discussing free speech in Britain, GB News host Matthew Goodwin said: “Free speech. Americans are big on free speech. Vice President JD Vance is big on free speech. Even he said he's watching the free speech crisis here closely.
“Is that something Americans could potentially see as causing a rift in the special relationship?
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If the UK doesn't get its act together on free speech, are Americans going to continue calling that out?”
Matthew Hurtt responded: “I really think so. Free speech is at the heart of the American experiment of what we're doing in the United States.
“It’s particularly concerning on American college campuses, where we’re seeing the kind of hate that fuels a culture that’s dangerous to American freedom and to what freedom you still have here.”
Sitting across from Starmer alongside President Trump, Vance delivered a pointed warning about what he described as excessive technology regulation.
In the past, the Prime Minister has mounted a defence of Britain's record on freedom of expression
In response to Vance, he said: "But in relation to free speech in the UK I'm very proud of our history there.
"We've had free speech for a very, very long time in the United Kingdom and it will last for a very, very long time."
Despite the Prime Minister's assurances, American concerns about British free speech restrictions have continued to escalate, with specific cases now being raised at the highest levels of the US Government.
Vice President JD Vance has appeared to come forward as a strong critic of free speech across Europe
REUTERSOne case that has particularly alarmed American officials is that of Lucy Connolly, a former childminder and wife of a Conservative councillor, who was sentenced to 31 months in prison in October after pleading guilty to inciting racial hatred.
The 42-year-old's conviction related to a social media post about the Southport attacks.
Three Court of Appeal judges rejected her appeal on Tuesday morning, meaning she will remain imprisoned until at least August.
In an unprecedented move, her arrest has been raised with Marco Rubio, the US secretary of state, according to sources familiar with the matter.