"It will always survive in the UK" pontificates Cameron, inspired by the Hebdo killings. Excuse me. a) it's nothing to do with freedom of speech; it's about murder and b) the UK has practised suffocating freedom of speech for ages. Just try getting the words of a Vile Pervert published in the mainstream media.

www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/j...hed-evans?CMP=twt_gu

You can say anything ye want,providing we let you of course.

Glitter gets the Sex offenders Register after a very dodgy trial in one of the most corrupt countries on earth,while Wyman gets sticky fingers and his own band after admitting a relationship with a 13 year old.

Quite right. My Russian friend who left The Soviet Union in late 70s says the atmosphere in Britain is now the same as it was when he left Russia. What more damning comment could one get.

time to roll out that quote again..reputedly made by Krushev to JFK on a visit to the USA: (word to this effect)

"how do you get your journalists to write what you want, we have to threaten ours with jail"



the very idea of a former PR man talking about freedom of speech is ironic

Huge amount of views on this - and private E-Mail comments totally agreeing about the hypocrisy of politicians, stars and media on the "freedom of speech" issue in the Western World. It's quite simply more subtle and cunning in our "democracies".

Take the "should we publish anti-religious cartoons?" question. The vast majority of publications decide not to... because "it might offend some readers". Bollocks. The threat of violence and reprisals is the only consideration (concealed by the weasel words). "Should we employ a convicted rapist?". The answer pretends to obey moral rules; the actual reality is potential violence and withdrawal of finances.