Nigel Farage is being urged by the Liberal Democrats to appear before Members of Parliament to address Reform UK’s recent prohibition of a local newspaper, rather than heading to Washington to advocate for “free speech” in front of the US Congress.
Instead of being in Westminster when MPs resume after the Summer break, the Reform UK leader is set to be in Washington, intensifying his campaign against migrants and challenging Britain’s laws on online safety and anti-hate speech.
While Farage travels over 3,000 miles to criticize Britain to Donald Trump’s associates, Max Wilkinson, the Lib Dems’ culture spokesman, intends to reach out to the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) committee to prompt an investigation into the controversy surrounding his party back in the UK.
The party faced criticism for categorizing journalists from Nottinghamshire Live incorrectly as “activists,” resulting in accusations of immature conduct.
Similar to a move characteristic of Donald Trump, Reform’s council leader at Nottingham County Council prohibited Nottinghamshire Live/Post reporters and the local democracy reporting service from receiving the party’s press releases and conducting interviews with him or the 40 elected Reform councillors in the region.
Calling out Farage for prioritizing a visit to the US over parliamentary duties, Wilkinson expressed that Farage should be focusing on addressing the curbing of free speech within his own party rather than spreading misinformation about UK free speech laws to the US Congress.
Richard Tice defended the decision to block access to Nottingham Live, alleging that Nottinghamshire Live had acted in an activist manner against Reform.
A back-and-forth ensued between Nottinghamshire Live’s editor and Reform representatives, with each party defending their stance on the situation.
Farage is scheduled to discuss “mass deportations” at the National Conservatism conference in Washington and is expected to present testimony on “free speech” to Congress.
Vice President JD Vance, who met with Farage during his recent UK visit, has criticized UK laws aimed at combating harassment, online crimes, and racism as attacks on “freedom of speech.”
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Farage is also anticipated to defend Lucy Connolly, who was convicted of inciting racial hatred through social media posts.
During his time in office, Farage has cast fewer votes in Parliament compared to other leaders, sparking discussions on his absence during crucial votes.
Since his election, Farage has made numerous international trips, particularly to the US, raising concerns about his commitment to UK parliamentary duties.
