Starmer told UK must repeal hate speech laws to protect LGBT+ people or lose Trump trade deal Sir Keir Starmer must embrace Donald Trump’s agenda by repealing hate speech laws in order to get a trade deal over the line, a Washington source has told The Independent. The warning came after the US vice-president suggested a UK-US agreement may be close, with the White House “working very hard” on it. He told UnHerd: “I think there’s a good chance that, yes, we’ll come to a great agreement that’s in the best interest of both countries.” ____________________________ The UK needs a First Amendment.
Computer says no. The article you linked (The Independent, July 18, 2024) is legitimate, but its claims about Trump’s team demanding the UK repeal hate speech laws for a trade deal lack concrete evidence and appear to be sourced from vague, unnamed insiders. Here’s a fact-check: Key Claims in the Article "Starmer told UK must repeal hate speech laws to protect LGBT+ people or lose Trump trade deal" Source: An unnamed "Washington source" (no official confirmation). No direct quotes from Trump, JD Vance, or U.S. trade officials. JD Vance’s Comments on Free Speech Vance did tell UnHerd (July 17) that a UK-U.S. trade deal was likely and praised "free speech," but he never linked it to repealing hate speech laws. He said: "I think there’s a good chance that, yes, we’ll come to a great agreement that’s in the best interest of both countries." No mention of LGBT+ issues or hate speech laws. U.S. Demands on UK Policy? The article suggests Trump’s team wants the UK to adopt a U.S.-style First Amendment, but: No U.S. trade deal in history has required changes to hate speech laws. The UK’s hate speech laws (e.g., banning incitement to racial/religious hatred) are similar to those in EU nations, which the U.S. trades with freely.
Respectable news organizations rely on unnamed sources all the time. That doesn't mean the story was unconfirmed.