Ex-Tory minister criticises those ‘hung up on freedom of speech’ in hate debate

Former Conservative minister Baroness Nicky Morgan has criticised those who are “hung up on freedom of speech” after defending the government’s attempt to legislate against online hate.

Speaking at the Antisemitism Policy Trust’s fringe event at the Tory Party’s conference in Birmingham, Morgan added:”We are not better off as a society by allowing certain content to flourish, including antisemitism, self harm and misogyny.”

Appearing on a panel with Lord Eric Pickles, the former Culture and Education Secretary was critical of attempts to rewrite the government’s Online Safety Bill to satisfy those who stress free speech issues.

“When talking about the Bill people are hung up on freedom of speech,” said Morgan.

“But it is better to allow people to say anything even when it is very harmful and isn’t beneficial to society, such as posting images of self-harm?”

Morgan, who now sits in the Lords, said the Bill should legislate against legal but harmful content.

Lord Pickles also raised the fact that “antisemitism is not a trivial thing” as he stressed that while social media can be a positive thing, “it can affect people in a very deep and negative way.”

He added there are “consequences to antisemitism” which was “responsible for the killing of six million Jews.”

During Monday’s discussion, which was chaired by the Trust’s chief executive Danny Stone MBE, Morgan confirmed she has had discussions about adding back into the Bill a digital media literacy strategy, which had been removed.

The Bill is currently with the House of Commons, but the Lords are likely to prove the key players in defining its final version.