Free speech warning
Nigel Farage has urged US politicians and businesses to pressure the British government over freedom of speech laws, comparing the UK to North Korea during testimony in Washington DC.
The Reform UK leader appeared before a congressional committee examining whether European online laws could affect Americans’ free expression. He cited the arrests of writer Graham Linehan and a woman jailed for racist tweets, describing them as proof the UK had “sunk into an awful authoritarian situation”.
Farage argued the Online Safety Act, passed under Labour, gave Ofcom “extraordinary and arbitrary powers”. While he said he supported protecting children online, he claimed the legislation was open to abuse and pledged that Reform would repeal it if in power.
Fierce criticism in hearing
The session saw sharp exchanges, with Democratic congressman Jamie Raskin branding Farage a “Putin-loving free speech impostor”. Georgia representative Hank Johnson dismissed him as a “fringe party leader” seeking attention from “tech bros”.
Raskin also highlighted allegations that Reform UK had restricted its own councillors’ media access, questioning Farage’s commitment to open debate.
Republican members, however, praised his stance, and Farage later met Donald Trump in the Oval Office, posting a photograph with the former president captioned: “It’s good to be back.”
UK backlash
At home, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer accused Farage of “badmouthing” Britain abroad and lobbying for sanctions that would harm workers. Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said his intervention was “about as anti-British as you can get”.
In written submissions, Farage insisted he was not calling for sanctions but urged American companies and politicians to have “honest conversations” with the UK over freedom of speech.
