Telegraph urges Government to accept Lords vote
Posted on 19th, December 2012
The Daily Telegraph has urged the Government to accept last week’s House of Lords vote to reform Section 5 of the Public Order Act. The editorial came after the House of Lords voted overwhelmingly for an amendment tabled by Lord Dear, which removes the word ‘insulting’ from Section 5. The revised Bill will need to […]
Victory in the House of Lords
Posted on 13th, December 2012
Last night the House of Lords voted in favour of reforming Section 5 of the Public Order Act 1986, in a great victory for free speech. Despite the Conservative and Labour parties ordering their peers to vote against the amendment, it was passed by 150 votes to 54. The amendment, tabled by Lord Dear, removes […]
VIDEO: BBC’s Daily Politics discusses Reform Section 5
Posted on 12th, December 2012
The BBC’s Daily Politics show discusses removing the word ‘insulting’ from Section 5 of the Public Order Act. Includes clip of Rowan Atkinson’s RS5 speech plus our very own panto horse nodding in thoughtful agreement with “Police Constable” Peter Tatchell.
Coverage of DPP’s call to scrap insult law
Posted on 11th, December 2012
CPS backs ‘insulting’ law change BBC News Let’s do away with this insult to free speech The Daily Telegraph Chief prosecutor supports scrapping law against insults The Daily Telegraph CPS backs ‘insulting’ law change MSN News ‘We don’t need a law against insults’: Keir Starmer backs free speech as he says it’s OK to offend […]
VIDEO: Peter Tatchell and friends send up Section 5
Posted on 10th, December 2012
Peter Tatchell and friends send up Section 5 of the Public Order Act which outlaws “insulting” words. Section 5 was used in 2005 to arrest a student for calling a horse “gay”. The House of Lords will vote on amendment to remove the law on “insulting” words on Wednesday 12 December. Download a broadcast-quality version […]
PHOTOS: Peter Tatchell and friends send up Section 5
Posted on 10th, December 2012
Peter Tatchell and friends send up Section 5 of the Public Order Act which outlaws “insulting” words. Section 5 was used in 2005 to arrest a student for calling a horse “gay”. The House of Lords will vote on amendment to remove the law on “insulting” words on Wednesday 12 December. Download a press-quality version […]
Director of Public Prosecutions says it is safe to remove the word “insulting” from Section 5
Posted on 10th, December 2012
Pressure grows on the Home Secretary ahead of crucial Lords vote Pressure is growing on the Home Secretary and the Government to remove the word “insulting” from the 1986 Public Order Act, after the Director of Public Prosecutions confirmed that it was safe to do so. In a letter to Lord Dear, the former Chief […]
Rowan Atkinson RS5 video goes viral
Posted on 22nd, October 2012
The Reform Section 5 campaign is delighted that its video of Rowan Atkinson speaking to MPs in support of the campaign has been viewed over 140,000 times in just a few days. Campaign Director, Simon Calvert, said, “It’s heartening that a speech on civil liberty should be so popular. It shows there is a real […]
VIDEO: Reception in Parliament for the Reform Section 5 campaign
Posted on 18th, October 2012
On 16 October 2012 MPs and Peers gathered to hear Rowan Atkinson, David Davis MP and Lord Dear explain why we need to Reform Section 5. Here’s our video round up of the event.
VIDEO: Rowan Atkinson’s speech at RS5 parliamentary reception
Posted on 16th, October 2012
Rowan Atkinson’s address to the Reform Section 5 parliamentary reception, 16 October 2012. Full transcript below.