Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Wednesday hit out at incumbent PM Keir Starmer and London mayor Sadiq Khan, accusing them of undermining free speech by “arresting comedians.”
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Although Johnson did not name anyone, he appeared to be referring to sitcom creator and comedian Graham Linehan ’s detention.
“Everywhere I go I find international investors worried about levels of crime and disorder in Labour-run London. And what are Khan’s cops doing? Arresting comedians for jokes,” Johnson wrote on X.
He warned that under Starmer, Britain’s “ancient and priceless reputation for free speech” was being destroyed. “Take away free speech, freedom of expression, freedom of thought—and you remove much of what is unique about this country and our culture. We are witnessing a slow-motion disaster,” he added.
Linehan, co-creator of TV sitcoms "Father Ted" and "The IT Crowd", said he was arrested Monday at London’s Heathrow Airport after arriving from the United States. The Metropolitan Police did not name him but confirmed a man was arrested on for “inciting violence in posts on X.”
In an April post on the platform, the 57-year-old wrote that trans women using women-only facilities should be treated as “violent criminals.” He went further, suggesting they be "physically attacked" if police and other measures failed to prevent them from accessing such spaces.
His comments came days after the UK’s Equality and Human Rights Commission announced that transgender women would be excluded from single-sex facilities such as toilets, hospital wards and sports teams. The decision followed a UK Supreme Court ruling that the terms “woman” and “man” refer to biological sex under anti-discrimination law.
Separately, Linehan is scheduled to appear Thursday at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in a different case, where he faces charges of harassing a transgender woman and damaging her phone. He has denied the allegations.
Also Read | 'I said what I said': JD Vance doubles down 'infringements on free speech' jibe on Starmer; UK PM reacts
Although Johnson did not name anyone, he appeared to be referring to sitcom creator and comedian Graham Linehan ’s detention.
“Everywhere I go I find international investors worried about levels of crime and disorder in Labour-run London. And what are Khan’s cops doing? Arresting comedians for jokes,” Johnson wrote on X.
Everywhere I go I find international investors worried about levels of crime and disorder in Labour-run London. And what are Khan’s cops doing? Arresting comedians for jokes.
— Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) September 3, 2025
Be in no doubt that under Keir Starmer the authorities are destroying this country’s ancient and…
He warned that under Starmer, Britain’s “ancient and priceless reputation for free speech” was being destroyed. “Take away free speech, freedom of expression, freedom of thought—and you remove much of what is unique about this country and our culture. We are witnessing a slow-motion disaster,” he added.
Linehan, co-creator of TV sitcoms "Father Ted" and "The IT Crowd", said he was arrested Monday at London’s Heathrow Airport after arriving from the United States. The Metropolitan Police did not name him but confirmed a man was arrested on for “inciting violence in posts on X.”
In an April post on the platform, the 57-year-old wrote that trans women using women-only facilities should be treated as “violent criminals.” He went further, suggesting they be "physically attacked" if police and other measures failed to prevent them from accessing such spaces.
His comments came days after the UK’s Equality and Human Rights Commission announced that transgender women would be excluded from single-sex facilities such as toilets, hospital wards and sports teams. The decision followed a UK Supreme Court ruling that the terms “woman” and “man” refer to biological sex under anti-discrimination law.
Separately, Linehan is scheduled to appear Thursday at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in a different case, where he faces charges of harassing a transgender woman and damaging her phone. He has denied the allegations.
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