Does Britain have free speech?

Questions of free speech and state repression have reared over the recent period. The right wing cynically uses the idea of free speech to pretend figures like Farage are being silenced.

In reality, however, those defending the needs of capitalism and the status quo are given all the free speech they need. In the mean time, elderly protestors have been arrested for standing against genocide.

Last week the High Court ruled that Palestine Action could no longer be brandished as terrorism, coming after the inability to find a jury which would sentence the activists.

Both the harsh repression from the British state and the inability to put this repression into practise in a systematic way shows the mess the British ruling class is in.

Here we share Nelson Wan, RCP executive committee member speaking on this topic at our 2025 Revolution Festival.