From: jnugent73@mail.com 
  
 On 26/08/2025 19:01, billy bookcase wrote: 
 > "JNugent"  wrote in message news:mh0cg6Ft4 
 aU2@mid.individual.net... 
 >> 
 >> When did it become a crime (in [England] and Wales, if not the 
 >> whole UK) to express one's opinion? 
 >> 
 > 
 > How would any date after 1066, suit ? 
 > 
 > quote: 
 > 
 > Defamatory libel was originally an offence under the common law of 
 > England. It was established in England and Wales and in Northern Ireland. 
 > It was or is a form of criminal libel, a term with which it is 
 > synonymous.[1] 
 > 
 > The common law offence of defamatory libel was abolished[2] for England 
 > and Wales and Northern Ireland on 12 January 2010. 
 > Section 4 of the Libel Act 1843 which created an aggravated statutory 
 > offence was also repealed. 
 > 
 > :unquote 
 > 
 > https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defamatory_libel 
 > 
 > One famous case being of course, Goldsmith v Pressdram Ltd [1977] 
  
 You are aware that it is a defence against an action to publish one's 
 honestly-held opinion, laws on defamation notwithstanding? 
  
 Defamation Act 2013, though that is merely a restatement of previous 
 legislation. 
  
 It is hard to see how Connolly's honest opinion could be other than that 
 she has been treadted harshly and shabbily. After all, that is also the 
 opinion of a good many other people. 
  
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  * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)