Don't Tell Me Who I May or May Not Insult! Reform UK's Section 5

Rowan Atkinson on free speech. The Christian Institute spearheaded the Reform Section 5 campaign to get the word ‘insulting’ removed from Section 5 of the Public Order Act, as part of the Crime and Courts Bill. Full video: https://t.co/fSoJ0o7PEf pic.twitter.com/NqQCdJsTRZ

— The Christian Institute (@christianorguk) June 1, 2023

Until today I was not aware of the Reform Section 5 movement. Now, I'm its biggest fan. 

I particularly like Atkinson's point that the "insulting words" test does not even require that there be a victim, just some expression that someone in power - who exactly? - deems insulting. 

He arrives at the same solution the U.S. Supreme Court did in 1931: the 'counterspeech doctrine' that says the solution to speech you don't like is more speech not suppressing other speakers. 

That's how free societies behave. Anything less is simply an all-purpose excuse to lock up any party whom the police disfavor.