Well if we can agree that the freedom of speech issue in Britain is being whipped up by the populists and the Tory’s who are aping the populists, along with themedia organs aiding them in this. — Punshhh

I think it is mostly down to social media that makes what was already there present in your face. I do not honestly think anything has gotten much worse overall in day-to-day life. I could be completely wrong though. I am not really in the best position to say and nor can I judge your view as I do nto know you at all.

However we do seem to now have freedoms of speech extended to be racist in public and on media platforms, mysogonist, to lie in the media, unquestioned and to spread conspiracy theories as fact.
It now seems to be much worse to accuse someone of being racist (you’re not allowed to) than it is to actually be racist (which is fine). — Punshhh

Much worse compared to when exactly? What is the metric? I am not being snarky at all here, just want to know on what kind of information you are basing this on.

I know there is a going to be a substantial declin ein living standards in the UK (and already has been) over the coming decades and that this will undoubtedly play into the hands of populists, so I am likely to take your perspective seriously. I have friends and family there who say things have generally gotten worse in many areas of life; financially, socially and politically.

I do not honestly think anything has gotten much worse overall in day-to-day life.

What I’m referring to here is a the rise of Reform, to the point where they are regularly polling above 20% in the polls, in the lead above the other party’s throughout 2025. Nigel Farage is spreading populist fuelled anti immigration hate. This can be seen clearly in the media, when his party won control of a council in the north last year, he gave a speech which was almost word for word like a Trump speech. In which he said things like all DEI (diversity, equality and inclusion) officers and case workers will be sacked immediately (there weren’t any). Budgets would be slashed across all departments etc etc. He often cites antifa an anti fascist left wing group as taking over the country (it doesn’t exist).
This is another incarnation of the British National party (BNP) or the National Front. Which has become mainstream through the spread of miss-information on social media, gaslighting millions with their lies.

Much worse compared to when exactly? What is the metric? I am not being snarky at all here, just want to know on what kind of information you are basing this on.

I don’t know if it’s worse than in the Enoch Powell rivers of blood speech era. As I was young and wasn’t exposed to it at the time.The hatred is palpable at the moment, recently thousands of St George’s flags were secretly erected on lampposts in most towns and villages around the country overnight. Roundabouts painted red white and blue. And aggressive rows and abuse reported when people would take down the flags, or put up other ones in protest.

This alongside a narrative of accusing people of what they themselves (the populists) are doing. Such as shouting that their freedom of speech is being restricted, while demanding the people who push back against their hatred and racism be silenced, or branded as unpatriotic. While wearing a St George’s flag and shouting that it is them who are patriotic, while in the next breath shouting Tommy Robinson (this is a caricature, but is reflective of what is going on).
The Daily Mail and the Telegraph are pushing all this hatred and lies. The BBC news is dumbed down and doesn’t give any pushback and the people believing the lies are taking their news from social media anyway.

So it’s the same pattern as in the past, of the periodic swing from political correctness, to the push back from the BNP and predjudice, which would then swing back again and so on. But this time the swing is bigger and there’s a chance that the racists will get into power.

I have friends and family there who say things have generally gotten worse in many areas of life; financially, socially and politically.

Yes, the cost of living crisis is starting to hit a lot of people now.

The premise being pushed here in this thread is a misunderstanding of the situation — Punshhh

Is that the "premise being pushed"? Aren't both sides being argued for in this thread?

Aren't both sides being argued for in this thread?

Yes, I suppose so, but isn’t one side just saying nothing has changed and the other side insisting things have changed.

Hi Flannel. Mine was a subpar response to your OP. I couldn't find my own example via Google either, for one thing, but mostly, having been cancelled over a free speech issue, I just let myself get irritable. Sorry.

Today, I have Christmas cheer. Two links to evidence, more available if you'd like.

Greg Lukianoff is American, but to my mind is the best critic of free speech restrictions in the English-speaking world.

https://eternallyradicalidea.com/p/yes-the-uk-really-is-that-bad-for

An example of a specific case: parents arrested for disagreements about their school:

https://www.spiked-online.com/2025/11/17/the-borehamwood-whatsapp-farce-shames-the-speech-police/

To re-articulate a point, there is evidence of threats to free speech everywhere, including this thread. People do not know the extent of the problem, which is a problem. This is not a partisan issue, and both sides are terrible, although, generally, the right took the playbook from the left, who started this crap game earlier.