Lords debates freedom of speech
13 December 2021
The House of Lords debated contemporary challenges to freedom of speech, and the role of public, private and civil society sectors in its upholding, on Friday 10 December.
Debate
The Archbishop of Canterbury put forward the debate.
Members speaking
Members speaking included:
- Lord Brown of Eaton-under-Heywood (Crossbench), former Justice of the Supreme Court
- Baroness Featherstone (Liberal Democrat), member of the House of Lords Communications and Digital Committee and local councillor
- Baroness Fox of Buckely (Non-affiliated), member, Advisory Council, Free Speech Union
- Lord Hannan of Kingsclere (Conservative), council member, The Freedom Association
- Baroness Merron (Labour), Labour spokesperson for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.
Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay (Conservative), Parliamentary Under-Secretary at the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, responded on behalf of the government.
Get involved
Watch and read the debate
Find out more about the issues discussed: catch up on Parliament TV or read the Lords Hansard transcript.
Explore background information
Find out more about the issues the debate covers in the House of Lords Library briefing.
Learn more about how the House of Lords checks and challenges government.
Photo by Roger Harris