Farage Criticizes Online Safety Act Following Linehan’s Arrest
Following the arrest of Graham Linehan at Heathrow Airport for posts related to transgender individuals, Nigel Farage has expressed concerns that the incident could set a troubling precedent for free speech, asserting that such actions could affect anyone in America, reports 24brussels.
Farage slammed the U.K.’s Online Safety Act, stating that it would “damage trade between our countries” and questioned, “At what point did we become North Korea?” His remarks come in the wake of backlash against police actions surrounding Linehan, who, along with another individual, did not face charges under the Online Safety Act, but rather the Public Order Act of 1986.
Three hours prior to Farage’s statement, U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned him during a session in the House of Commons, accusing Farage of traveling to America to “badmouth and talk down our country.” Starmer stated, “Worse than that… he’s gone there to lobby the Americans to impose sanctions on this country, which will harm working people. You cannot get more unpatriotic than that. It’s a disgrace.”
Farage’s position drew further criticism from U.S. Congressman Jamie Raskin, who labeled him a “far-right, pro-Putin politician” and “Donald Trump sycophant” during the session. Raskin emphasized there is “no free speech crisis in Britain,” pointing out that Starmer had not shut down GB News, where Farage hosts a program.
Raskin suggested that Farage ought to address his concerns within his own Parliament, referencing a previous sparring match over free speech that took place when Raskin visited the U.K. in July with a delegation from the House of Representatives.
