Free Speech Matters

Last Saturday, a week ago today, 3 men were killed (and 3 others badly injured) by a Libyan with refugee status in Reading's Forbury Park. This was just after a Black Lives Matter demo had taken place in the Park... The next day a football match was held between Manchester City and Burnley. The players "took the knee" in support of the Black Lives Matter movement - insultingly overlooking the Reading tragedies as if they had never happened. And then a small plane flew overhead trailing the banner "White Lives Matter Burnley". The chap who did this got the sack from his job. ... This was illegal, because Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights says "Everyone has the right to freedom of expression."..... Article 3 of the Convention says "No one shall be subjected to torture or to inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment." So, back on 10 June 1977, citing Art. 3, I complained to the European Commission of Human Rights that the British Government allows foreign and Commonwealth men to live in the UK through marriage even though I (and other British men) often can't live in their countries through marriage. My complaint was rejected on the grounds that I hadn't been subject to a decision that applied to me personnally..... The chap responsible for flying that banner over Manchester was subject to a decision that applied to him personnally.... I rest my case.