Press release - 03 February 2006

Lords speak out for freedom of speech

The National Campaign for the Arts (NCA) is delighted that the House of Lords continued to advocate the importance of freedom of speech at the Terrorism Bill's third reading. The Government must now recognise the importance of protecting civil liberties and accept the Bill in its amended form when it returns to the Commons.

The NCA has carried out a sustained lobbying campaign to alter the original Bill, which posed a serious threat to artistic freedom. The original offence of 'Encouragement of terrorism' was broad and unclear and would have inevitably created a climate of self-censorship. The NCA called for the removal of the section of the Bill dealing with 'glorification' and greater clarity of language. The Lords incorporated these changes into the Bill to protect important freedoms. The NCA will continue to lobby as the Bill returns to the Commons to ensure that the value of artistic freedom is upheld.

Victoria Todd, NCA Director said: 'The changes made to the Bill introduce safeguards, which should allow artists to go on producing thought provoking and challenging work, of the kind that promotes debate and understanding in a tolerant society, without fear of prosecution or retribution. It will be a retrograde step if the Government does not accept the Bill in its amended form.'

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