It's clearly open to interpretationI read it as meaning 'previously we only asked you to obey the law, now we're asking you to uphold certain values as well, one of which is freedom of speech'.
(,
Wed 13 May 2015, 16:19,
archived)
But, to take your example, freedom of speech is incorporated into UK lawvia the Human Rights Act - oh wait...
None of the things in his list are values: they're fundamental human rights (assuming the rule of law is something like the right to a fair trial).
There is a basic assumption in, presumably, most societies that people will respect certain values (like not being an arsehole to everyone by default). It's not a requirement though. There are arseholes, people disagree, people upset each other. The government can *ask* all they want for people to uphold values, but if they start trying to *make* people "obey" them then they've crossed a line.
(None of the things in his list are values: they're fundamental human rights (assuming the rule of law is something like the right to a fair trial).
There is a basic assumption in, presumably, most societies that people will respect certain values (like not being an arsehole to everyone by default). It's not a requirement though. There are arseholes, people disagree, people upset each other. The government can *ask* all they want for people to uphold values, but if they start trying to *make* people "obey" them then they've crossed a line.
Hol[]y - WHAT CAN THE HARVEST HOPE FOR,
Wed 13 May 2015, 16:51,
archived)
Arguing against tolerance in defence of tolerance?That's what he's done. That's what the context tells us. And in that, he wants to go further than the law in policing and curtailing free speech in the name of protecting such values as free speech. If Orwell was alive today, he'd be turning in his grave.
One of those traditional British values is supposed to be something called Rule of Law. What he said is fundamentally incompatible with it. Absurdly, given what he said about democracy and other such values, that arguably puts him on the wrong side of what he's calling for, by calling for it - what a pillock!
I look forward to the principled Tory backbench rebellion against this.
(,
Wed 13 May 2015, 22:49,
archived)
One of those traditional British values is supposed to be something called Rule of Law. What he said is fundamentally incompatible with it. Absurdly, given what he said about democracy and other such values, that arguably puts him on the wrong side of what he's calling for, by calling for it - what a pillock!
I look forward to the principled Tory backbench rebellion against this.