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The farmers’ protest in London on the 19th November was a stark reminder of the challenges faced by the farming community in the UK. Farmers gathered to express their frustrations with the government’s recent budget, particularly policies that threaten family farms through increased inheritance taxation. For many, this protest was about more than economic policy; it was a plea to safeguard the heart of rural life and the integrity of the nation’s food system.  (Picture: Marcin Nowak/LNP)
Free Speech vs. Responsible Speech: Navigating Brand Messaging in the Age of Accountability15/11/2024 Britain: The Home of Speaker's Corner. Recent events in the UK have reignited the debate over free speech and the allocation of police resources, encapsulated by the provocative phrase "policing the streets, not tweets." This discussion reached new prominence with the investigation of Telegraph journalist Allison Pearson, who was visited by Essex Police regarding a year-old social media post, labelled as a "non-crime hate incident." The incident has sparked widespread debate about the boundaries of free expression, the role of law enforcement in regulating speech, and the practical implications of such interventions.  Here we are, just five days past Rachel Reeves' October 30th, 2024, budget announcement, and the dust is hardly settling. Across the UK, micro and small business owners—including myself—are delving into the details, analysing the implications, and wondering what comes next. Meanwhile, news has already broken that UK farmers, under pressure from this new budget, are planning a protest in London on the 19th of this month. With Elon Musk weighing in on ‘X’ and Jeremy Clarkson, ideally positioned through his Amazon Prime show Clarkson’s Farm, making his strong opinions known, the unrest in the farming community serves as a reminder that, while the budget is presented as a path forward, not everyone feels it is the right one.  |