Part 9/12:
The widespread political and social fallout was swift: conservative figures, MPs, and even JK Rowling condemned the incident, describing it as a move toward totalitarian control. The police’s heavy-handed response, deploying armed officers to detain a comedian over social media jokes, has been likened to oppressive regimes. The incident sparked debates about free speech, policing priorities, and what many see as a cultural shift where satire and open debate are policed as threats to social harmony.