Part 1/13:

The Evolving Landscape of Free Speech and Society in the UK

The Mythology of Free Speech

The conversation begins with a humorous anecdote highlighting differences in perceptions of free speech across history and geography. An American claims he can shout “hell with Ronald Reagan” outside the White House, while a Russian retorts that he too can do the same in front of the Kremlin. This joke encapsulates the idea that, in the past, freedom of speech was more symbolic than absolute—a reality the UK now faces more acutely.