Free speech at risk in Royal Britain

Free speech at risk on Royal Britain The recent public mourning period for the death of Queen Elizabeth II threw into sharp focus the question of freedom of speech in the UK. Some were stirred to ask is there any? The arrest and charging of a woman in Edinburgh for holding up an Abolish the Monarchy poster brought the whole question into sharp focus. Beyond this incident, there was a strange simmering attitude of intolerance to anyone who might choose to disagree, with the establishment narrative about the monarchy. There was at times an overbearing sense of coercive compassion. No dissident views it seemed could be heard. The mourning and celebration of the Queen's reign was understandable. She did give a great life of service to the nation, people wanted to pay their respects. I would have liked to see something far more respectful to her memory and that of her family, giving them some time for their own quiet peaceful personal grief. But those who have other views should also have been allowed to express them. There is a view that the monarchy represents the class riven society that is Britain. The Monarchy sits at the top of a system that ensures everyone has their place in a hierarchy dominated by the wealthy and privileged – all are subjects. The monotonous over the top coverage on BBC, ITV and many other channels offered no other voices. The famous BBC balance should have meant they sort out such voices but not anymore it would seem. There was almost a desperation to get people to conform. There was a more nuanced story to be told. On Ireland, the late Queen did much to promote reconciliation, after the years of war. The historic visit in 2011, with the visit to the National War Memorial Gardens, honouring fallen Irish republicans. Then, the state dinner – with her speech, where there was acknowledgement of the wrongs done by Britain to Ireland in the past. Then, a year later, the famous hand-shake with Sinn Fein deputy first minister, Martin McGuiness. A move difficult for both sides, with the Queen lets not forget losing her uncle, Lord Louis Mountbatten, to an IRA bomb in 1979. She visited Ireland a number of times to help the peace. But the Queen also stands as the Commander in Chief of the British armed forces, whose true role in Ireland over the years of the Troubles has yet to be acknowledged. The media has been the main leader in promoting this coercive compassion, with its one size fits all coverage of the succession from Elizabeth Il to Charles III. Britain claims to be a mature democracy. Democracy, though, only prospers when important elements like free speech flourish. What this recent episode shows is that free speech is very much under threat. Successive governments have legislated to restrict freedoms of speech and assembly. This has in turn led to groups like environmental protesters, Extinction Rebellion, taking direct action. Removing the valves of democratic accountability, like free speech, does not resolve problems but sees protest move into other forms. Let’s not forget, in the north of Ireland meeting the peaceful protests of the civil rights movement with violence led in the end to 30 years of war. Democracy thrives when there are educated and informed citizens who are treated with respect, heard and taken notice of when they have a point to make. Majority and minority views should be respected. On recent evidence, Britain seems to have drifted a long way from this ideal. In fact, the lack of tolerance of other views, suggests an insular country on the road to an increasingly authoritarian existence, where only the ruling elites version of events can be heard. The desperate need to seemingly make people conform indicates a democracy in trouble, not at ease with itself but feeling under threat and challenged. A dangerous time for all. Northern Ireland secretaries come and go Who is Chris Heaton Harris, the new Northern Ireland Secretary? The question will have crossed many minds in Ireland - the third person to hold the role in the last three months. A former chief whip, Harris, also chaired the Eurosceptic European Research Group of MPs. Who better to deal with the thorny issue of the Norther Ireland Protocol? The Protocol negotiation has seen the role of Northern Ireland Secretary come back to prominence in the political lexicon. Many would have hoped that almost a quarter of a century into the peace process, that the role might have become redundant. The first Northern Ireland Secretary was William Whitelaw. He was put in post when Ted Heath's government established direct role from Westminster in 1972. In those early years there was a pattern that saw Northern Ireland Secretaries move onto the Home Office. Whitelaw later became Margaret Thatcher's Home Secretary. Douglas Hurd followed a similar path. On the Labour side, Merlyn Reece moved from Northern Ireland to the Home Office. Later, in the noughties, John Reid followed the same path. Some believed the route significant, with law and order tactics trialled in the north of Ireland then being brought to the rest of the UK via the Home Office. The period of the hunger strikes saw Humphrey Atkins and Jim Prior in the role. It was seen as a demotion for Prior from Trade and Industry. All major decisions at this time were micro-managed from Downing Street. The most high-profile MP to hold the role was Mo Mowlem, who played a crucial role in helping broker the Good Friday Agreement. In fact, it was felt Mo's star shone too brightly, putting PM Tony Blair in the shade. Peter Mandelson replaced her. As the peace process spluttered along Northern Ireland Secretaries came and went at regular intervals. Theresa Villers held the post from 2012 to 2016, then James Brokenshaw (2016 - 2018), Karen Bradley (2018 - 2019), Julian Smith (2019- 2020) and Brandon Lewis (2020 -2022). Shailesh Vara occupied the post from July to September. The Northern Ireland Executive (NIE) failed to sit for much of this period. If the NIE had sat more consistently then the role of Northern Ireland Secretary might have slipped further into obscurity. Now, with the NIE still suspended, this time due to the Protocol, Heaton Harris will be expected to get things moving. The peace process has always been brittle but survived. However, the thorny issue of the Protocol could have severe consequences for Ireland and peace going forward. Heaton Harris will need all the diplomatic skills of his predecessors and maybe a bit of that Mowlem magic, if he is going to succeed, where others have failed.