by Paul Sutton
Obviously I share the horror at her continued political imprisonment, which is one of the lowest points in politics (and our national life) in my 60 years. But I also think it’s dangerous when likeminded people keep repeating: ‘What she said was appalling, disgusting, etc’.
So what? She didn’t incite but gave a personal opinion. And that’s their opinion of her opinion. It’s not relevant. Making it so fatally concedes the key principle of free-speech.
She’s in prison for an opinion. And by discussing it – in fact, always expressing repugnance – one is (albeit inadvertently) accepting that its ‘worthiness’ is an issue. It isn’t. One should be free to express any view.
Far too many think they need to reiterate their disagreement with Lucy. Even the Free Speech Union seems to. It’s a nicely liberal stand, but weakens the basic principle and becomes a genuflection, to those who don’t believe in free speech anyway.
Read also: The rapists, paedophiles and terror offender given shorter sentences than Lucy Connolly by Eleanor Steafel, Telegraph