1771 Wilkes: Freedom of Speech in Parliament
Politicians and political publications have often faced censorship. In 1576, MP Peter Wentworth was imprisoned for defying Elizabeth I's restrictions on freedom of speech in Parliament. He was repeatedly imprisoned for expressing his views, and he died in the Tower of London in 1596.
It was only after 1689 that free speech within Parliament was guaranteed, yet MPs did not always want their speeches published. In the 18th century, Parliament banned publication of its debates as a breach of privilege. This led to a battle with radical MP and journalist John Wilkes – a popular national figure who was convicted in 1764 for publishing an attack on George III and the Government. In 1771, he used his influence in the City of London to protect people who printed parliamentary debates from arrest. Unable to prevent publication of debates, Parliament stopped trying to suppress parliamentary reporting.
This opened the way for radical MP and journalist William Cobbett to publish Parliamentary Debates in 1803. He sold the title to William Hansard, and Hansard became Parliament's official record in 1909. Parliament's debates have been broadcast on radio (from 1976), television (from 1985) and online (from 2002).
