I’m no fan of Barton but I would defend his right to say what he wants all day every day and twice on Sunday. To listen to that smug, clown of a judge, sneering his verdict as he slouched in his comfy chair filled me with dread thinking bigots like him will be handing down even more verdicts if and when Lammy gets his way and juries are restricted. This should have ended at the civil courts and I’d have had no problem if Barton had lost his last penny. But he should not be faced with losing his liberty.
The war on freedom of speech will not end until (as you say ) have a 1st amendment free speech law and get rid of activists in cps .
Joey Barton is the absolute end of a bell , an average footballer at best and a moron, but to punish him criminally for showing the world that he is *insert above * is well over the top .
This nonsense has to stop .
We will end up becoming strangers as people will be terrified to say the wrong thing without fear of being handcuffed , strip searched and banged up ( tho some might enjoy it 😉) , just as the process is the punishment once in "justice " system, fear of entering the "justice " system will be the chilling effect of high profile arrests .
I would like to wish Paul and all other readers a merry Christmas , happy New year and wish you all health and happiness for new year 😊
Ps : I see Wolves are playing Arsenals 'b' team this evening, I am sure that this WILL be the week that Wolves finally get the first win in the Premier league 😉
Calling someone a 'bike nonce' in no way "suggested Vine had a sexual interest in children" Paul. Half the problem here is people over-thinking throw away jokey comments like that.
This is an excerpt taken from a newspaper that beggars the hypocrisy and big brother efforts applied to what we once took for granted 'freedom of speech. Apology for length but as Paul has written about Rose I thought that if you missed the outcome of her being hauled away and charged it would be worth revisiting in what is fast becoming an unrecognisable world:
Police in the UK have arrested a 75-year-old woman for standing silently with a placard around her neck bearing the words: “Coercion is a crime. Here to talk, only if you want.”
Rose Docherty was arrested under the Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) (Scotland) Act 2024, which imposes a 200-metre buffer zone around any facility that provides abortions—in this case, the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow.
The grandmother of two was initially approached by two male police officers, who asked her what she was doing. She replied: “I am just here, with my sign, offering conversation.”
One of the officers then stated that behaviours potentially in breach of the Safe Access Zones legislation include “handing out leaflets, religious preaching, and silent vigils.”
Docherty was then arrested and searched, with two additional officers arriving on the scene. Two male officers took the 75-year-old by the arms and placed her in the back of a police van. Having recently undergone a double hip replacement, she struggled to get into the van and had to crawl inside.
This is the second time Docherty has been arrested under the law this year, the first being in February.
Reacting to her first arrest, Docherty said: “Everybody has the right to engage in consensual conversation.
“I held my sign with love and compassion, inviting anyone who wants to chat, to do so—and stood peacefully, not approaching anyone.
“I should not be treated as a criminal for inviting people to chat with me—lending a listening ear. Conversation is not forbidden on the streets of Glasgow, and yet this is the second time I have been arrested for doing just that.”
A Police Scotland spokesperson said at the time: “Officers attended and a 75-year-old woman was arrested and charged in connection with a breach of the Safe Access Zone legislation.”
Following her February arrest, Rose received a letter from the Procurator Fiscal requiring her to accept that her actions were unlawful.
The letter read: “…the evidence is sufficient in law to justify my bringing you before the Court. I have decided, however, in all the circumstances of the present case, not to bring proceedings.
“You should note that if a similar report against you is submitted to me in future, and there is sufficient evidence in law to justify my bringing you before the Court, you may be prosecuted.
“If you accept this warning or are deemed to have accepted it, I shall not prosecute you for the above offences.”
Rather than accept the warning, Doherty issued the following statement: “I cannot pretend that what I did was unlawful—I merely offered a chat, particularly in the context of anyone experiencing coercion of any kind—an issue firmly on my heart.
“This is why I reject the warning I was issued by Scottish authorities, with support from ADF International. It isn’t right to deprive anyone of the right to take up my offer to talk—or to restrict me unfairly from carrying out this peaceful, compassionate action.”
Supported by the legal team at Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), a Christian legal advocacy group, Doherty rejected the warning. In August 2025, the Procurator Fiscal confirmed the case had been dropped and the warning withdrawn. The authorities also guaranteed that Rose’s sign would be returned to her by Police Scotland.
The Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (DRL), a division within the United States Department of State, issued a statement on Rose’s arrest, saying: “Police in Scotland arrested a woman holding a sign offering to talk to people in a restricted ‘buffer zone.’ Freedom of expression needs to be protected. We call on governments, whether in Scotland or around the world, to respect freedom of expression for all.”
The concern was echoed by JD Vance, who in his April 2025 Munich Security Conference speech criticised Scotland’s “buffer zones”.
Scotland is not alone in preventing prayer or silent vigils around abortion facilities. Buffer zone legislation is also in place in England and Wales under Section 9 of the Public Order Act 2023. It makes it a criminal offence to influence, obstruct, or harass anyone within 150 metres of an abortion clinic. Prayer, including silent prayer, may fall under the law that came into force on 1 May 2024.
Welcome to our Orwellian dystopia. Keep up the wonderful work you are doing Paul Embrey and wishing you and fellow travellers in this crazy world A Merry Christmas and a better new year... we need it. 🎄
I hope he wins his appeal. This judge was plain wrong and it definitely smacks of class-driven spite against Barton. We have to fight to defend his freedom of speech, all or nothing.
Hurty words being used as an excuse to silence again. Truly frightening but this will all change when Reform win the next election. We need to sit tight for a few more years. Ive often wondered why Ricky Gervais hasn't been cancelled by the woke mob. He's made countless jokes about the trans cult, with many of the clips doing the rounds on social media, yet he's still riding high. It's truly bizarre. And ditto Jimmy Carr as you say.
I’m no fan of Barton but I would defend his right to say what he wants all day every day and twice on Sunday. To listen to that smug, clown of a judge, sneering his verdict as he slouched in his comfy chair filled me with dread thinking bigots like him will be handing down even more verdicts if and when Lammy gets his way and juries are restricted. This should have ended at the civil courts and I’d have had no problem if Barton had lost his last penny. But he should not be faced with losing his liberty.
Hi Paul 👋
I hope they dont look at my twitter feed then 😉
The war on freedom of speech will not end until (as you say ) have a 1st amendment free speech law and get rid of activists in cps .
Joey Barton is the absolute end of a bell , an average footballer at best and a moron, but to punish him criminally for showing the world that he is *insert above * is well over the top .
This nonsense has to stop .
We will end up becoming strangers as people will be terrified to say the wrong thing without fear of being handcuffed , strip searched and banged up ( tho some might enjoy it 😉) , just as the process is the punishment once in "justice " system, fear of entering the "justice " system will be the chilling effect of high profile arrests .
I would like to wish Paul and all other readers a merry Christmas , happy New year and wish you all health and happiness for new year 😊
Ps : I see Wolves are playing Arsenals 'b' team this evening, I am sure that this WILL be the week that Wolves finally get the first win in the Premier league 😉
Calling someone a 'bike nonce' in no way "suggested Vine had a sexual interest in children" Paul. Half the problem here is people over-thinking throw away jokey comments like that.
This is an excerpt taken from a newspaper that beggars the hypocrisy and big brother efforts applied to what we once took for granted 'freedom of speech. Apology for length but as Paul has written about Rose I thought that if you missed the outcome of her being hauled away and charged it would be worth revisiting in what is fast becoming an unrecognisable world:
Police in the UK have arrested a 75-year-old woman for standing silently with a placard around her neck bearing the words: “Coercion is a crime. Here to talk, only if you want.”
Rose Docherty was arrested under the Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) (Scotland) Act 2024, which imposes a 200-metre buffer zone around any facility that provides abortions—in this case, the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow.
The grandmother of two was initially approached by two male police officers, who asked her what she was doing. She replied: “I am just here, with my sign, offering conversation.”
One of the officers then stated that behaviours potentially in breach of the Safe Access Zones legislation include “handing out leaflets, religious preaching, and silent vigils.”
Docherty was then arrested and searched, with two additional officers arriving on the scene. Two male officers took the 75-year-old by the arms and placed her in the back of a police van. Having recently undergone a double hip replacement, she struggled to get into the van and had to crawl inside.
This is the second time Docherty has been arrested under the law this year, the first being in February.
Reacting to her first arrest, Docherty said: “Everybody has the right to engage in consensual conversation.
“I held my sign with love and compassion, inviting anyone who wants to chat, to do so—and stood peacefully, not approaching anyone.
“I should not be treated as a criminal for inviting people to chat with me—lending a listening ear. Conversation is not forbidden on the streets of Glasgow, and yet this is the second time I have been arrested for doing just that.”
A Police Scotland spokesperson said at the time: “Officers attended and a 75-year-old woman was arrested and charged in connection with a breach of the Safe Access Zone legislation.”
Following her February arrest, Rose received a letter from the Procurator Fiscal requiring her to accept that her actions were unlawful.
The letter read: “…the evidence is sufficient in law to justify my bringing you before the Court. I have decided, however, in all the circumstances of the present case, not to bring proceedings.
“You should note that if a similar report against you is submitted to me in future, and there is sufficient evidence in law to justify my bringing you before the Court, you may be prosecuted.
“If you accept this warning or are deemed to have accepted it, I shall not prosecute you for the above offences.”
Rather than accept the warning, Doherty issued the following statement: “I cannot pretend that what I did was unlawful—I merely offered a chat, particularly in the context of anyone experiencing coercion of any kind—an issue firmly on my heart.
“This is why I reject the warning I was issued by Scottish authorities, with support from ADF International. It isn’t right to deprive anyone of the right to take up my offer to talk—or to restrict me unfairly from carrying out this peaceful, compassionate action.”
Supported by the legal team at Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), a Christian legal advocacy group, Doherty rejected the warning. In August 2025, the Procurator Fiscal confirmed the case had been dropped and the warning withdrawn. The authorities also guaranteed that Rose’s sign would be returned to her by Police Scotland.
The Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (DRL), a division within the United States Department of State, issued a statement on Rose’s arrest, saying: “Police in Scotland arrested a woman holding a sign offering to talk to people in a restricted ‘buffer zone.’ Freedom of expression needs to be protected. We call on governments, whether in Scotland or around the world, to respect freedom of expression for all.”
The concern was echoed by JD Vance, who in his April 2025 Munich Security Conference speech criticised Scotland’s “buffer zones”.
Scotland is not alone in preventing prayer or silent vigils around abortion facilities. Buffer zone legislation is also in place in England and Wales under Section 9 of the Public Order Act 2023. It makes it a criminal offence to influence, obstruct, or harass anyone within 150 metres of an abortion clinic. Prayer, including silent prayer, may fall under the law that came into force on 1 May 2024.
Welcome to our Orwellian dystopia. Keep up the wonderful work you are doing Paul Embrey and wishing you and fellow travellers in this crazy world A Merry Christmas and a better new year... we need it. 🎄
I hope he wins his appeal. This judge was plain wrong and it definitely smacks of class-driven spite against Barton. We have to fight to defend his freedom of speech, all or nothing.
The judge was wrong at best. Probably biased instead of wrong.
Hurty words being used as an excuse to silence again. Truly frightening but this will all change when Reform win the next election. We need to sit tight for a few more years. Ive often wondered why Ricky Gervais hasn't been cancelled by the woke mob. He's made countless jokes about the trans cult, with many of the clips doing the rounds on social media, yet he's still riding high. It's truly bizarre. And ditto Jimmy Carr as you say.
As a football fan I never thought I would be defending Joey Barton, but here we are.