A Cabinet minister today rejected extraordinary barbs launched by US Vice President JD Vance over curbs to free speech in the UK and Europe.
The US Vice president used a speech at the Munich Security Conference on Friday to argue that erosion of civil liberties was a bigger threat than Russia or China.
He singled out ‘very dear friends the United Kingdom’ over a ‘backslide in conscience rights’ – pointing to the case of an army veteran who was convicted for silently praying in a ‘safe zone’ outside an abortion clinic.
Speaking at the White House on Friday evening, Donald Trump hailed the ‘brilliant’ comments by Mr Vance saying it was ‘true’ that Europe is ‘losing their wonderful right of freedom of speech’.
But touring broadcast studios this morning, Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds, a prominent Christian, said being able to access health services was ‘an important British value too’.
He told BBC‘s Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg: ‘He also said we can disagree on some things and still be close allies. I would disagree on that. I think the threat from Russia is real.’
Touring broadcast studios this morning, Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds made clear he did not agree with JD Vance
JD Vance claimed the erosion of free speech posed a greater threat to the UK than Russia or China
Speaking at the White House in Friday, Donald Trump hailed the ‘brilliant’ comments by Mr Vance saying it was ‘true’ that Europe is ‘losing their wonderful right of freedom of speech’
Referring to Mr Vance’s comments on the Smith-Connor case, Mr Reynolds said: ‘On the specific example he gave, let’s be clear, we don’t have blasphemy laws in the UK. That’s the right thing.
‘I say that, as a Christian: no-one is arrested for what they are praying about.’
Asked if Mr Vance was wrong, Mr Reynolds said: ‘I wouldn’t agree with his characterisation of that. But he did say we can disagree on some of this stuff and still be a key part of a relationship of allies and friends.’
On Sky News, Mr Reynolds said ‘no-one is subject to any kind of enforcement from the state for praying in this country’.
‘The example he gave was about people being able to access healthcare, in this case, abortions, free of intimidation or harassment.
‘I think that’s an important British value, too.’
In contrast, Tory leader Kemi Badenoch has urged Britons to ‘fight’ for free speech, saying she supported those ‘questioning the status quo’.
‘Free speech is precious – and under threat. We must fight for it. It challenges dangerous orthodoxies and sparks change,’ she said.
Ms Badenoch – who also said she ‘hates cancel culture‘ – suggested the Government had stepped over a line between protecting the public and allowing free speech.
‘Rules to protect people from ‘perceived’ harm have overreached. Being upset or offended shouldn’t be the state’s concern,’ she said.
‘Silencing free speech harms democracy, culture and individual resilience. Without free speech, false ideas thrive unchallenged.’
The vice president’s comments were made to the Munich Security Conference on Friday.
Mr Vance claimed the erosion of free speech posed a greater threat to the UK than Russia or China.
He also criticised the UK over a legal case in which a former serviceman who silently prayed outside an abortion clinic was convicted of breaching the safe zone around the centre.
In a wider attack on what he suggested is a shift away from democratic values across Europe, Mr Vance claimed the ‘basic liberties of religious Britons, in particular’ are under threat.
Kemi Badenoch has insisted free speech is ‘under threat’ after the extraordinary barbs launched by US Vice President JD Vance
He referred to the conviction of Adam Smith-Connor, 51, who had denied doing so but was found guilty last year of failing to comply with a public space protection order at the centre in Bournemouth in November 2022.
Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds, who stressed his own Christian views, told the BBC’s Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg: ‘He also said we can disagree on some things and still be close allies. I would disagree on that. I think the threat from Russia is real.’
Mr Reynolds said: ‘On the specific example he gave, let’s be clear, we don’t have blasphemy laws in the UK. That’s the right thing. I say that, as a Christian, no-one is arrested for what they are praying about.
‘The example he gave was about making sure people can access health care.’
Asked if Mr Vance was wrong, Mr Reynolds said: ‘I wouldn’t agree with his characterisation of that. But he did say we can disagree on some of this stuff and still be a key part of a relationship of allies and friends.’