Starmer Urges Police Prioritize Serious Crime After Linehan Arrest at Heathrow

Comedian and writer Graham Linehan was arrested by armed Metropolitan Police officers at Heathrow Airport on suspicion of inciting violence through three posts on social media related to transgender issues. The arrest sparked widespread criticism from opposition politicians, Conservative MPs, and prominent figures including Elon Musk and JK Rowling, who described the situation as authoritarian and a threat to free speech. Despite the backlash, Downing Street emphasized that the arrest was an operational police matter and reiterated that Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and the Home Secretary have prioritized tackling serious crimes such as knife crime, anti-social behavior, and violence against women over policing social media content. The Prime Minister’s official spokesman rejected claims that the UK had become a totalitarian state and stressed the government’s support for free speech within the framework of law enforcement priorities. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch criticized the arrest as ‘thought policing,’ arguing that police resources should not be focused on monitoring social media for offensive language. Nigel Farage plans to raise Linehan’s case before the U.S. House Judiciary Committee, framing it as part of a broader free speech crisis in the UK.