Former British diplomat Ian Proud gets police inquisition treatment upon retuning home for daring to visit Russia.

“If I can be arrested for promoting real discussion about peace then anyone who expresses a view that differs from the government’s can be too.

“On the night of 2 October, when I arrived at Heathrow following a visit to the Valdai discussion club in Moscow (27 September — 1 October) five members of UK Counter-Terrorism police were waiting for me on the jetway to the plane and took me into custody under the UK Counter-Terrorism and Border Security Act of 2019.

“I was searched, interrogated for 3 hours, had all my electronic devices taken (I had to purchase a new laptop today) and was told that I had no right not to comment.

“My crime? Attending a conference to discuss how to bring peace not only in Ukraine, but elsewhere including Iran, the middle-East etc.”

Scottish peace activist and podcaster George Galloway was given the same treatment (see this post.) How can we be sure that a Left bloc government in NZ won’t be like this? We know they are enemies of Free Speech. —Eds