Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has been warned that the UK has “lost its way” after the latest arrest over a social media post. Nigel Farage is set to hit out at the “war on freedom” in Britain while speaking at US Congress today. This comes after the arrest of comedian Graham Linehan was detained as he got off a plane returning from America by five machine-gun clad officers.

The 57-year-old Father Ted writer has been vocally critical of gender ideology online, which has now led to his arrest. This marks the latest case of UK police investigation issues surrounding free speech while other crimes, such as shoplifting, soar. The US Trump administration has condemned Sir Keir over the decline of free speech, which is set to be the topic of conversation between Mr Farage and Trump allies. The Reform UK leader will also bring up “the Lucy Connolly case and the increasing role of our police in non-crime ‘hate’ incidents,” he told The Sun.

Mr Linhean claimed police officers said he’d been arrested over three tweets posted in April, including a joke calling for transgender women to be “punched in the balls” if they refuse to leave a woman-only space. The police have confirmed his arrest yesterday at Heathrow, citing “suspicion of inciting violence…in relation to posts on X”.

His arrest has been blasted as “terrorist-style action” for just a series of tweets by MPs.

Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick told the Express: “The police only send an officer to one in 5 reported shoplifting offences, but somehow think it’s appropriate to deploy 5 armed officers to arrest a comedian over three tweets.

“It’s ridiculous and a complete waste of police time. We desperately need a return to common sense policing, where officers go after actual criminals.”

Reform deputy leader Richard Tice added: “This over the top, terrorist-style reaction by the police to a series of tweets is extraordinary. Be under no illusion: freedom of speech in Starmer’s Britain is in grave danger.”

Labour MP Jonathan Hinder said that cases like Mr Linehan’s arrest “show we need a serious reset to get the priorities right”.