At a joint press conference with Donald Trump today, GB News’ Bev Turner challenged Sir Keir Starmer over free speech in Britain.
The Prime Minister was pressed on concerns about restrictions and whether the UK is doing enough to protect open debate.
Speaking at the press conference after being called on by Donald Trump, Bev said: "Despite what we talked about in Scotland a few weeks ago, we still have 12,000 people a year here being arrested for social media posts for what many see as free speech violations.
"Does that not remain an important area where there’s still a lot of disagreement?"
Donald Trump and Keir Starmer hosted a joint press conference today
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Keir Starmer responded: "Free speech, that has long lived in this country.
"It’s one of the founding values of the United Kingdom, and we protect it jealously and fiercely, and always will.
"We will bear down on any limits on free speech.
"But I do draw a line between free speech and those who use speech to peddle paedophilia, or to promote suicide content to children.
"So yes, I’m all for free speech, but I’m also for protecting children from things that will cause them harm from paedophiles, and from those encouraging suicide, which has had terrible consequences for individuals, particularly teenagers.
"That’s the balance we have to strike. But we’ve had freedom of speech in this country for a very long time, and we will always protect it."
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The exchange came during President Trump’s second state visit to the UK.
He had attended a state banquet hosted by King Charles on Wednesday, calling the invitation "one of the highest honours of his life".
The press conference followed meetings at the UK Prime Minister's Chequers residence, where both nations celebrated a substantial technology and prosperity agreement.
Keir Starmer said that he will 'always protect free speech' in the UK
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The deal encompasses mutual investments between the US and UK worth hundreds of billions of dollars.
The media event presented opportunities for journalists to question both leaders on various challenging topics, including matters related to Jeffrey Epstein that had recently led to Mr Starmer dismissing Peter Mandelson from his position as ambassador to the United States.
However, free speech seemed to be an important topic with multiple journalists grilling the world leaders on the issue.