Boris Johnson has launched a scathing attack on Keir Starmer’s Britain, branding the current state of affairs as a shocking assault on free speech and comparing it to the actions of a “woke Securitate”—a reference to the notorious secret police of Communist-era Romania.
In a fiery statement on X, Boris reacted to recent reports of a journalist receiving a visit from police officers over a social media post, calling it an “appalling” breach of civil liberties.
The former Prime Minister questioned how Britain could lecture other nations on freedom of expression when its own citizens are being targeted for expressing their views online.
“This is appalling,” Johnson declared. “How can Starmer’s Britain lecture other countries about free speech when an innocent journalist gets a knock on the door—for a tweet? Our police have their hands full with burglaries and violent crime. They are being forced to behave like a woke Securitate—and it has to stop.”
‘Police Resources Misused’
Johnson, who led the country through Brexit and the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, did not mince words as he criticised what he sees as the misallocation of police resources. According to him, officers should be focused on tackling real crimes—such as rising burglaries, knife crime, and other violent offences that are plaguing communities across the country.
The former PM’s comments come amid growing concerns that police forces across the UK are being drawn into policing speech, rather than prioritising serious crime. Critics argue that officers are increasingly diverted to investigate so-called “non-crime hate incidents”, such as offensive social media posts, at the expense of protecting citizens from genuine threats.
‘A Chilling Effect on Free Speech’
This latest incident involving a journalist being questioned over a tweet has sparked outrage among free speech advocates, who argue that the climate of fear is preventing people from speaking their minds on social media. Johnson’s remarks will likely resonate with those who believe that Britain is on a dangerous path towards censorship and the suppression of dissenting voices.
Former leader of the Conservative Party, Iain Duncan Smith said:
“This is outrageous. What we are seeing is the police force turning into the ‘thought’ police and is definitely George Orwell’s 1984; very Big Brotherish. I feel sorry for the police who seem to be so badly led that officers are forced into this nonsense.”
“There is a real risk here of creating a chilling effect,” said a Conservative Party spokesperson. “The police should not be weaponised to enforce woke agendas. People are becoming afraid to voice their opinions for fear of a knock on the door.”
Sir Keir Starmer, who once served as the UK’s Director of Public Prosecutions, has come under increasing scrutiny for his perceived stance on free speech and law enforcement priorities. Critics accuse him of failing to stand up against what they see as an overreach of state power.
A Growing Debate
Johnson’s incendiary remarks are likely to add fuel to the growing debate around freedom of speech in Britain, as concerns mount over what many see as the creeping influence of “woke” ideology in public institutions.
But as Barrister Daniel ShenSmith clearly put it: “This is outrageous and borders on abuse of power. This is a case people need to cite: ‘free speech encompasses the right to offend, and indeed to abuse another’ Scottow v CPS [2020] EWHC 3421 (Admin).”
Have Your Say: Do you agree with Boris Johnson? Should police focus on real crimes instead of policing tweets? Let us know in the comments below!
