FREE SPEECH LAWS MUST CHANGE – After Father Ted creator, Graham Linehan’s arrest, Wes Streeting says

Free speech laws must change after Graham Linehan’s arrest, Wes Streeting has said.

The Health Secretary suggested that existing legislation was not fit for purpose after the Father Ted creator was arrested by five armed officers at Heathrow airport as he got off a flight from the US.

Linehan, who has become a vocal critic of transgender ideology, said he was detained “like a terrorist” and locked in a cell for making jokes online.

The case marks the latest instance of police continuing to investigate free speech issues while crimes including shoplifting soar, despite Labour pledges to tackle such offences.

On Wednesday, Mr Streeting opened the door to changing the law in response to the row surrounding Linehan’s arrest.