Earlier this week Sir Edward Leigh MP praised the government for whipping against an amendment in the House of Commons that sought to introduce censorship zones around abortion clinics. He tweeted that they were: “standing firm for the right to free speech and allowing peaceful pro-life vigils outside abortion clinics.”
It’s a welcome and strong stance on the significant “buffer zones” issue that has had little media attention, but really sits at the heart of the free speech debate. For many, free speech is easy to support until we’re faced with a person with whom we disagree. Thankfully the Government passed with flying colours last night. But free speech campaigners can’t rest just yet.