Western nations love to pretend they’re the gold standard of freedom and that all-important precious democracy—but lately, countries like the UK are looking a lot more like the regimes we used to fight against. When anti-abortion activists get arrested for talking or praying near a clinic and comedians get investigated for hurting people’s feels, it might be time to stop pretending you’re the “gold standard” of anything except totalitarianism. This isn’t inclusiveness by any stretch, and it’s not democracy either. This is Marxism in lipstick, dressed up as “tolerance,” all while silencing dissent and criminalizing free speech and free thought.
That’s why President Trump’s new idea is exactly what the West, namely Europe, needs right now. Trump’s new plan is to put economic pressure on these so-called allies and force them to respect real human rights, starting with free speech.
Under Trump’s free trade, countries like the UK wouldn’t get to enjoy the perks of trading with the US while trampling all over people’s basic civil liberties.
No free speech? No free trade deal. Period.
Sir Keir Starmer’s hopes of agreeing a free trade deal with the US could be at risk over a free speech row. The US state department issued a statement on Sunday saying it was “concerned about freedom of expression in the United Kingdom” in relation to the case of an anti-abortion campaigner.
It said it was “monitoring” the case of Livia Tossici-Bolt, who was prosecuted for holding a sign near a Bournemouth abortion clinic reading: “Here to talk if you want.” A verdict in the case is due on Friday.
The woman who is being prosecuted for the alleged breach of a “buffer zone” outside a Bournemouth abortion clinic has said she is “grateful” after the US State Department expressed concern over the case.
Asked about the comments, a source familiar with trade negotiations told The Telegraph there should be “no free trade without free speech”.
Vice President JD Vance has previously raised concerns about free speech in the UK.
But the UK’s Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds insisted free speech has not been part of tariff negotiations with the US.
He also rejected the suggestion a deal with the US to avoid tariffs is done but not signed.
Mr Reynolds said: “Obviously, there are things from different people in the administration that they’ve said in the past about this, but it’s not been part of the trade negotiations that I’ve been part of.”
And apparently, the idea that the UK would have to meet bare minimum standards for free speech for their own citizens was enough to send shockwaves through the Good Morning Britain staff.
Hellbound and Down 
I would impose similar terms on the EU as a whole.
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