Britain ‘Out of Whack’ on Free Speech, Warns Nick Clegg

Published: 10 September 2025 | The English Chronicle Desk

Former deputy prime minister Nick Clegg has warned that Britain has “fallen out of love with the future” and is “out of whack” on free speech, highlighting concerns over increasing restrictions on public discourse. Speaking on The Master Investor Podcast with Sky’s Wilfred Frost, the ex-Liberal Democrat leader, who served alongside David Cameron during the 2010-2015 coalition, described a national climate marked by “underlying grumpiness.”

Clegg cited recent events—including last summer’s riots, the implementation of the Online Safety Act, and protests outside asylum hotels and in support of the now-banned group Palestine Action—as indicative of a government increasingly accused of curbing freedom of expression.

“When I’ve looked at some of the examples, I thought to myself, ‘yeah, that’s really unpleasant speech or egregious speech,’” Clegg said. “But really, surely part of the definition of being in a free society is people say ghastly things, offensive things, awful things, ugly things, and we don’t sweep them under the carpet.” He added: “I do think the balance [on free speech] is out of whack here.”

The former deputy prime minister’s comments follow recent calls from police watchdog Sir Andy Cooke for a more “common sense” approach to law enforcement. Cooke argued that there should be a clear distinction between what is offensive and what is criminal, referencing the widespread condemnation of comedy writer Graham Linehan’s arrest by five armed officers over allegedly inciting violence on social media regarding transgender issues.

Clegg, who lost his parliamentary seat in 2015, later joined Meta, where he oversaw global efforts to enhance content moderation standards and improve the company’s public image. He resigned from his role as head of global affairs in January 2025, ahead of former US president Donald Trump’s return to office.

Reflecting on the nation’s political and economic trajectory, Clegg defended the austerity measures implemented during the coalition but argued that Britain’s post-pandemic economic recovery had been “messed up” by Brexit. He contrasted the UK’s recovery with the US, while also highlighting China’s technological and economic prowess, particularly in the race for artificial intelligence supremacy.

“I don’t believe that America is going to beat China in this AI race in the way that they appear to imagine they might. I think China is far, far too powerful and technologically gifted and adept to be sort of treated like that,” he said.

Clegg’s remarks come amid broader debates in the UK over free speech, online regulation, and the role of government in balancing security with individual liberties.