The Guardian
· collected 2026-09-27 · by Haroon Siddique Legal affairs correspondent
Polling commissioned by Liberty indicates that free speech concerns will significantly impact voter decisions in the upcoming general election. Three out of five respondents said a political party's stance on this issue would influence their vote, particularly affecting Labour due to perceived shortcomings in protecting free speech. The survey also found that two-thirds of those polled viewed arrests for supporting Palestine Action negatively, with only one-fifth seeing it positively, suggesting potential voter repercussions for Labour if it fails to address these issues adequately.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-27,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Free speech will be a big concern for voters at the next general election, with the government’s current approach on the issue perceived by many to be bad for Britain, polling suggests.
uncertain
polling → perceive → Britain
Three in five people said a political party’s position on free speech would affect how they voted at a general election.
asserted
they → say → election
The human rights organisation Liberty, which commissioned the polling from More in Common, claimed the results showed that Labour’s failure to protect free speech could cost it votes.
uncertain
failure → commission → votes
A significant proportion of those polled felt certain policies and rhetoric by politicians had been detrimental for free speech.
asserted
policies → poll → speech
For example, two in five said arrests of people for holding signs in support of the banned group Palestine Action had had a negative effect on freedom of speech.
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arrests → say → speech
That compared with one in five who said it was positive.
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it → compare → five
Only about one in seven thought Andy Burnham cared more about protecting free speech than his predecessor, Keir Starmer.
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Burnham → think → predecessor
Akiko Hart, the director of Liberty, said: “The ability to express ourselves freely makes us all who we are, and free speech is of vital importance to the British public.
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speech → say → public
These findings should serve as a stark wake-up call for the government, which has lost the public’s confidence on protecting this fundamental human right.
asserted
which → serve → right
“We’re fortunate to live in a nation shaped by many identities and perspectives, which means differences of opinion and sometimes uncomfortable views that could upset or offend others.
uncertain
that → ’re → others
This requires the government to adopt a consistent, non-partisan approach to safeguard everyone’s right to speak freely while protecting people from discrimination.”
asserted
This → require → discrimination
The polling, released ahead of a joint Liberty and More in Common panel event at the Labour party conference on Monday, also found that more than a third of people believe politicians calling for phrases to be banned at protests is bad for free speech, compared with just over a quarter who think it is positive.
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it → release → quarter
When asked about police getting greater powers to restrict protests or marches, a similar proportion – a third – believed it was good as thought it was bad.
asserted
it → ask → protests
More than half of people polled said calling protests “hate marches” or “thuggery” had been bad.
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calling → poll → protests
Starmer called for “tougher action” against people who used phrases such as “globalise the intifada” – intifada is an Arabic word that translates as uprising or “shaking off” – at pro-Palestinian demonstrations, and there have been arrests.
asserted
that → call → demonstrations
The Crime and Policing Act, which received royal assent in April under Starmer, gave police increased powers to restrict protests, including requiring them to consider the “cumulative impact” of repeated demonstrations in the same area when imposing conditions.
asserted
which → receive → conditions
Since Palestine Action became the first direct action protest group to be proscribed, in July last year, more than 3,600 people are believed to have been arrested for showing support for the organisation, most for holding placards saying “I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action”.
asserted
I → become → Action
Arrests have continued since Burnham entered office.
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Burnham → continue → office
The UK supreme court will hear an appeal against the ban in November, having decided it is arguable that proscription represents a disproportionate interference with articles 10 and 11 of the European convention on human rights, which protect the rights of freedom of speech and protest respectively.
asserted
which → hear → speech
Both left and right have complained about so-called “cancel culture” in recent years, with each side portraying the other as the chief culprit.
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side → complain → culprit
Hart said: “The prime minister must show urgent leadership on an issue that is dividing the country, and change course away from heavier restrictions and towards a principled defence of free speech.”
asserted
that → say → speech
A Home Office spokesperson said: “Freedom of speech and peaceful protest are fundamental rights that this government will always protect.
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government → say → that
It is right that as a society and a government, we draw that line clearly.”
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we → draw → line
The Labour party was also approached for comment.
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party → approach → comment
More in Common polled a nationally representative sample of 2,017 people in Great Britain between 11 and 15 September.
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More → poll → September
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