Fiona Bruce MP launches free speech campaign
On Wednesday 27th November Fiona Bruce MP with two other MPs launched of a campaign to protect free speech - ‘Reform Clause 1 – Feel Free To Annoy Me campaign.’
Fiona Bruce MP explained:
“Freedom of speech is one of the most precious – and fundamental – elements of a free society. Lose that and you risk losing a whole lot more. The Government has plans to introduce a new law which defines ‘anti-social behaviour’ as ‘conduct capable of causing nuisance or annoyance to any person.’ This is a very open ended definition which has the potential to affect free speech for literally millions of ordinary people because what we say can be capable of causing nuisance, or annoyance to others, but as Volter said, I may ‘not agree with what you have to say, but I'll defend to the death your right to say it.’”
Fiona Bruce continued:
“This new law, Clause 1 of the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Bill, could mean that a person protesting with a placard, a busker or even a street preacher could all be subject to court proceedings - feeling ‘annoyed’ about someone else’s view should never result in this, and I am fighting vigorously to stop this law being introduced.”
