Sir Keir Starmer is “presiding over the death of Britain’s free speech”, an American author and journalist has told GB News.
Lionel Shriver, who has spent 37 years living in Britain, and became a citizen in 2012, moved to Portugal back in 2023, and opened up about her fears over comedian Graham Linehan’s arrest last year.
The creator of Father Ted was arrested at London Heathrow Airport on suspicion of inciting violence after making gender-critical posts on X.
His arrest spurred outrage from free speech campaigners, including author and fellow gender-critic JK Rowling. It has also created a fearsome environment for authors, Ms Shriver suggested.
“I thought I could be next,” she told GB News. “I hope not to be misunderstood.”
The author’s life work has led her around the world, taking her through countries like Northern Ireland, Kenya, Thailand and Israel.
As a result, she was able to conclude she felt “freer” when outside of the UK.
“I was a little nervous about the publication of this book, for example. Who knows who in the Home Office is going to come across it and be offended?
‘What’s going on here gives me the willies!’ the author told GB News
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GB NEWS
“And and for all I know, I’m in handcuffs and that’s not any longer being melodramatic, is it? There is no First Amendment here.”
She said Britain not having a First Amendment, which in America protects a citizen’s right to freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly and petitioning the Government, is seen as a “weird point of pride”.
“Because you don’t need one. You have the common law, you believe in freedom of speech,” she explained. “And there is a collective dedication to that. So you don’t need it written down.”
But she went on to argue that Britons do need the amendment to be protected in writing.
IS BRITAIN’S FREE SPEECH IN CRISIS? READ THE LATEST:
Graham Linehan was cleared of all charges
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PA
“Britons may not realise how bad this has been for the reputation of the country outside the country,” she started.
“Americans have finally woken up to what’s happening here. They are absolutely appalled.
“And I would include probably some Democrats. It’s not just Republicans. It’s like, what’s going on over there? What are they doing?
“This whole idea of people being arrested because they put out some tweet that was a little, a little abrasive is completely horrifying to Americans. As it should be.”
She added: “[Sir Keir Starmer] is presiding over the death of freedom of speech in this country. So you can’t just rely on a little laugh, little aphorisms about your country. What matters is the reality.”
Labour has endured a firm fightback by ardent campaigners who claim their rights have been eroded since Sir Keir moved into Downing Street.
However, although free speech is not ratified in a codified constitution like America, it remains protected under Article 210 of the Human Rights Act.
But tensions over the matter continue to be sky-high, with Reform UK leader Nigel Farage providing evidence before a congressional committee over British limitations on freedom of speech.
“At what point did we become North Korea?” he bluntly declared.
