The Trump administration’s latest U.S. State Department human rights report claims conditions in the United Kingdom worsened over the past year, citing growing restrictions on free speech and rising antisemitic threats.
The report highlights government actions after the 2024 Southport murders, where anti-immigration riots erupted.
Officials intervened to limit public discussion of the attacker’s identity, applying laws to punish speech deemed offensive. Nearly 2,000 arrests followed, with critics accusing the government of targeting conservative views.
🚨BREAKING: The U.S. State Department has highlighted “significant human rights issues” in the U.K. as part of its global report on human rights practices, including “serious restrictions on freedom of expression” 🇬🇧🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/5VGYsp0D8O
— ADF International (@ADFIntl) August 12, 2025
The report cites cases like Lee Joseph Dunn, jailed for eight weeks over a meme linking migrants to knife crime, and Lucy Connolly, sentenced to over two years for urging arson against migrant housing.
Vice President JD Vance, currently in the UK, accused Britain of eroding liberties. UK officials defended balancing safety and speech. Critics point to U.S. actions under Trump against certain speech as evidence of hypocrisy.
