Britain’s actual problem with free speech
When being offensive is an offence
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At times, the rise of Captain Tom Moore felt like a fever dream. When Britain entered lockdown in March 2020, the 99-year-old veteran of the second world war began doing laps of his garden on a Zimmer frame to raise money for an nhs charity. He intended to raise £1,000 ($1,215); instead he managed £33m. The queen gave him a knighthood. An execrable rendition of “You’ll Never Walk Alone”, featuring Captain Tom, Michael Ball and a choir of nurses hit number one. A gin bearing his name was brought out. On New Year’s Eve that year, his image was plastered across London’s night sky by 300 glowing drones.
This article appeared in the Britain section of the print edition under the headline "Mind your manners (or go to jail)"
Britain December 10th 2022
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