Jan Böhmermann

Debate between Viscount Ridley and Baroness Anelay of St Johns

Wednesday 4th May 2016 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Anelay of St Johns]

I agree entirely with the noble Baroness.

[Viscount Ridley (Con)]

Will my noble friend confirm that it is not a crime in this country to insult a foreign head of state, as it seems to be in Germany? Will she also restate in the most forthright terms the principle of untrammelled freedom of speech, along the lines usually attributed to Voltaire but actually coined by Beatrice Hall: that we may not like what you say, but we will defend to the death your right to say it?

[Baroness Anelay of St Johns]

My noble friend has raised a critical point: that whenever we have freedoms, we also have responsibilities. There is no law to prevent us saying things about foreign heads of state that they may find uncomfortable, but we do have laws to prevent incitement against individuals, groups and religions. That is the right approach.