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Farage Tells Congress the U.K. Is Curbing Free Speech, Urges U.S. Pressure

His appearance turned a policy fight over online-safety rules into a transatlantic political clash.

The Reform UK leader will speak to the House of Representatives judiciary committee on Wednesday
Britain's Reform UK Party leader Nigel Farage speaks to reporters as he arrives to testify before a House Judiciary Committee hearing on European threats to American free speech and innovation, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., U.S., September 3, 2025. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst

Overview

  • At a House Judiciary hearing, the Reform UK leader argued the Online Safety Act and EU digital rules will chill expression and saddle American tech firms with costly enforcement and fines.
  • He likened Britain to “North Korea” and urged U.S. politicians and businesses to warn London it has “got this wrong.”
  • Farage highlighted the Heathrow arrest of Irish writer Graham Linehan on suspicion of inciting violence over posts on X, which the Metropolitan Police defended as enforcing existing law.
  • He cited Lucy Connolly, sentenced in 2024 for stirring up racial hatred and released this year, saying restrictions prevented her from joining him in Washington as an example case.
  • Democrats led by Rep. Jamie Raskin blasted Farage as a Trump-aligned fringe figure while Republicans including Chairman Jim Jordan echoed his concerns; Farage exited before all questions as Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the trip and said the law protects children online.