A comedy writer’s arrest supercharges a transatlantic debate about free speech in Britain

London — Armed police at Heathrow Airport are rare. Yet on Monday, Irish comedian Graham Linehan was greeted by five of them after stepping off a flight from Arizona. He was arrested, searched, and questioned over three posts he had written on X in April.

In one, Linehan wrote:
“If a trans-identified male is in a female-only space, he is committing a violent, abusive act. Make a scene, call the cops and if all else fails, punch him in the balls.”

The Metropolitan Police, without naming Linehan directly, confirmed that a man in his 50s had been arrested “on suspicion of inciting violence.” Linehan, best known as co-creator of the sitcom Father Ted and now a vocal gender-critical activist, denied his comments were intended as a call to violence. He was released on bail.

Farage Seizes on Case in US Hearing

For Nigel Farage, leader of the populist Reform UK party, the timing was perfect. Two days later, he appeared before the US House Judiciary Committee in Washington at a hearing on “European threats to free speech.”

“At what point did we become North Korea?” Farage asked lawmakers. “I think the Irish comedy writer found that out two days ago at Heathrow.”

Farage argued that Linehan’s arrest showed Britain was sliding into “an awful authoritarian situation.” His remarks echoed growing concern in Washington. Earlier this year, Vice President JD Vance cited multiple UK cases as evidence that free speech was “in retreat.” The US State Department has also criticized Britain for “serious restrictions” on speech.

Britain’s Complicated Free Speech Laws

Unlike the United States, Britain has no First Amendment. Instead, free expression is governed by a patchwork of decades-old laws, which critics say are increasingly strained by the digital era.

One of the most striking recent cases involved Lucy Connolly, a mother of three jailed last year for a violent social media post during anti-immigration riots. She wrote on X:
“Mass deportations now, set fire to all the f––king hotels full of the bastards for all I care.”

Connolly pleaded guilty to inciting racial hatred under the Public Order Act of 1986 and was sentenced to 31 months. She served 40% before being released. To many on the right, she is now a symbol of political repression.

But legal experts point out that inciting violence has long been a crime in Britain — whether shouted at Speakers’ Corner or posted online. “Tweeting that you should set fire to all the hotels containing migrants … is crossing the line very clearly,” said Max Hill, former director of public prosecutions.

Left-Wing Critics, Too

It is not only conservatives raising alarms. Pro-Palestinian activists say their voices are being targeted as well.

In June, members of the group Palestine Action broke into Britain’s largest airbase and damaged two military planes. The government later designated the group a terrorist organization under the Terrorism Act. Since then, hundreds of protesters have been arrested for expressing support.

Former Supreme Court justice Jonathan Sumption criticized the policy, writing: “Merely indicating your support for a terrorist organization without doing anything to assist its acts should not be a criminal offense.”

Police Push for Clarity

After Linehan’s arrest, Metropolitan Police Commissioner Mark Rowley urged the government to review the laws his officers must enforce. He warned that current rules drag police into “toxic culture-war debates.”

He argued resources should focus only on “cases creating real threats in the real world.” Prime Minister Keir Starmer agreed, telling Parliament that police should prioritize the most serious crimes.

Warning for America

Farage ended his testimony in Washington with a message for the US: “I’ve come today to be a klaxon — don’t allow this to happen piece by piece in America.”

But Democrats were quick to push back. Representative Jamie Raskin noted that Farage still freely hosts shows critical of the UK government and accused him of hypocrisy.

“To people in Britain who think this free speech impostor and Trump ally will protect your freedoms,” Raskin said, “look at what Trump and MAGA are doing to destroy ours.”

Source: CNN News

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