Privileges Committee Special Report

Debate between Yvonne Fovargue and Andrea Jenkyns

Monday 10th July 2023 Commons Chamber

[Dame Andrea Jenkyns]

After the BBC cancelled an interview with the hon. Member, he wrote that

“some oligarchs’ lawyers are cracking down on free speech.”

The former leader of the Liberal Democrats, the hon. Member for Westmorland and Lonsdale (Tim Farron), commented about Gary Lineker:

“I’m sure we can count on the Free Speech Union to stand up against this hysterical act of cancellation…”.

[Yvonne Fovargue (Makerfield) (Lab)]

Will the hon. Member give way?

[Dame Andrea Jenkyns]

I am sorry; I am nearly at the end.

The hon. Member for Brighton, Pavilion (Caroline Lucas) stated:

“Those on the frontline of environmental destruction are freedom fighters”.

Yet seven MPs who express an opinion are hauled into the Chamber to defend themselves in this debate.

If the House truly believes in free speech for all, it should vote down this motion and send a message that this House will not tolerate the policing of speech for Members of this House. By the way, out of common courtesy, I would like to reiterate that I contacted the hon. Members I have mentioned in my speech to say that I would be doing so—a privilege that the seven of us were not afforded by the Privileges Committee, as we had no prior notice that we were to be mentioned in its report.

I conclude by quoting from our greatest Prime Minister ever, Sir Winston Churchill:

“Everyone is in favour of free speech. Hardly a day passes without its being extolled, but some people’s idea of it is that they are free to say what they like, but if anyone says anything back, that is an outrage.”—[Official Report, 13 October 1943; Vol. 392, c. 923.]

Sir Winston was right.