Whatever happened to freedom of speech? (From St Helens Star)

Whatever happened to freedom of speech?

9:13am Thursday 28th January 2010

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I WAS listening to the news the other Sunday and heard a report that there was a bit of an upset within the government that Prince Charles had supposedly expressed an opinion about our country entering into war with a certain country, the inference was that he had abused his position by doing this.

I was always under the impression that freedom of speech was the right of everyone in this country; anyone can see the injustice in not allowing people to have their opinion. Look what happens when an MP expresses an opinion against this government.

If we condone this manipulation we might as well have a junta running the country, Gordon Brown was all too ready to condemn the execution of the drug runner in China but the general opinion of the people I have spoken to all gave the same answer “If you carry drugs into China, you pay with your life”.

I am neither defending or opposing this rule but making the point that if Gordon Brown is allowed an opinion on such a debatable matter, why can’t Prince Charles have the same privilege?

I do know that many subjects such as capital punishment, immigration, security are very often misrepresented because MPs are agreeing with their manifesto and are not the opinion of the people they are supposed to represent, if a referendum was carried out on many important issues I am quite sure the government manifesto would not be adhered to.

I would not expect a referendum on every single issue that comes before the Government but I would expect my MP to represent the constituents and not simply to go along with what he is told to do, anyone could do that.

Les Woods, Sutton

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