Freedom trumps: British Parliament opts for free speech over desire not to be offended

Our British cousins have little stomach for the bombastic Mr. Donald Trump, but after much debate in Parliament they have come to the conclusion that they shouldn't ban him from entering their country (something their laws enable them to do if his presence is considered not conducive to the public good).

Quite right, as a British counterpart might say.

It's one thing to disagree with what someone says, and even how he says it. It is another thing to try to prevent him from saying it.

During the three-hour debate, British lawmakers described the billionaire as a fool and a demagogue and worse. And not everyone was happy with the final result. Some said afterward that they still didn't want Trump within a thousand miles of Great Britain.

Some might wonder why Parliament even took up the issue. It's because that under British law, any petition supported by at least 100,000 people is considered for parliamentary debate. More than half a million signed the ban Trump petition.

Published in Editorials on January 20, 2016 11:30 AM