Despite believing the PCC is toothless, owner dominated and fake, I must agree that opinion pieces should never be censored - let people condemn (I got over 18,000 letters after my Live Aid comments) and let the other side have its say - as we do here on KingOfHits.com

Free speech is important.

It is important that everyone can have an opinion - and that unless that opinion is demonstrably abusive it should be allowed - though unfounded allegations should always be treated with caution.

This article was tasteless coming so soon after Stephen Gately's death. If it had been published 3 months later no-one would have batted an eyelid. It was the wrong article at the wrong time - so I can understand why 25,000 people were upset by this. In the end though it was just an opinion and she was entitled to it. In many ways it shows her lack of sensitivity for the family and friends and fans of Stephen Gately - I hope she did not just do it for "fame".

JK2006 wrote:
I must agree that opinion pieces should never be censored

Never? Surely, it depends what is said.

If they are vile, racist and/or - to most logical people - untrue, should they still be accepted?

For me, I think not.

To compare the matter of free speech generally, I would not say that this should 'never' be denied. Preaching intolerance for instance and shouting 'fire' in a crowded cinema.

Never - because sensible writers never cross that line into illegality. In nearly ten years on The Sun I was only almost sued once - by the Pet Shop Boys for suggesting It's A Sin was similar to Wild World - they dropped the case and settled. It was the only time I ran copy past the Sun lawyers before submitting it! They cleared it.