Abstract
‘Democracy depends on the ability to air our views, to challenge and interrogate people’s standpoints and to learn from different perspectives and experiences. And if we value a liberal, pluralistic society, we cannot allow one group of people to say their experiences are more important than others. And I stand by that declaration of George Orwell’s, carved into the wall outside the BBC: ‘If Liberty means anything at all, it means the right to tell people what they do not want to hear.’ This is vital for the future of a free press.’
– The prime minister, Rishi Sunak addressing the Society of Editors
‘The media is there to scrutinise, to challenge and to investigate. Often politicians like us. And so it is clear that there can be no role for the Government in this, or indeed saying how this should be done. Moreover, if you are a Conservative, personal responsibility, free markets and limited regulation are cornerstones of your belief. Interfering in industry is absolutely not. But to suggest that the Government should have no role in protecting free speech is overly simplistic. The government has a role in setting frameworks to enable a free press to survive.’
– The culture secretary, Lucy Frazer, at the same event
‘I’ve always despised those two-faced types who love a bit of back-biting until they’re the subject, when they suddenly turn all #BeKind. I’m genuinely not fussed what people say about me … Indeed, when I had a little too much time on my hands … I would occasionally nip on to online message boards and start a rumour about myself. But after seeing the Princess of Wales talking about her cancer diagnosis last week, I felt an emotion that is generally alien to me: shame.’
– Julie Burchill, writing in the Daily Mail
‘I’m not in favour of journalists.’
– Unnamed member of the Garrick Club, asked if he was in favour of admitting women