header-logo header-logo

Home Login E-newsletter About us

Book review: On the Law of Speaking Freely

© Copyright LexisNexis 2026. All Rights Reserved.
24 October 2025 / Charles Wynn-Evans
Issue: 8136 / Categories: Features , Human rights
printer mail-detail
233182
"This book displays an admirably succinct mastery of its inherently controversial subject matter"
  • Author: Professor Adam Tomkins
  • Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
  • ISBN: 9781509972104
  • RRP: £24.99

Free speech is undoubtedly one of the most important and controversial issues of our time. ‘Cancel culture,’ the gender-critical/realist debate, the definition of Islamophobia, prosecutorial decisions in relation to the Public Order Act 1986 offences concerning threatening or abusive behaviour and harassment, alarm, or distress, and the scope and application of the Online Safety Act 2023—these all, in different ways, bring into sharp focus the controversies that arise in relation to free speech, whether in the context of online safety, media regulation, educational environments, or the workplace.

The controversy, and on occasion toxicity, that can accompany discussion of free speech cries out for a detailed analytical assessment of the legal aspects of the issue. This new work by Professor Adam Tomkins, John Millar Chair of Public Law at the University of Glasgow, rises impressively to this challenge, adroitly and fluently placing

If you are not a subscriber, subscribe now to read this content
If you are already a subscriber sign in
...or Register for two weeks' free access to subscriber content

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Read All
Sponsored by
Freeths—Suzanne Porter

Freeths—Suzanne Porter

Firm launches trusts, estates and tax practice in the north with senior hire

Fieldfisher—Guy Forster

Fieldfisher—Guy Forster

Personal injury and medical negligence team strengthened by partner hire

mfg Solicitors—Richard Port

mfg Solicitors—Richard Port

Firm appoints partner and head of family in Birmingham office

NEWS
Read All
Cautious support for proposed reforms to homebuying process
CILEX has called for a review of conveyancing fees and stronger regulation of the high-volume residential property sector, in its response to government proposals for homebuying reforms
Time to stir the pension pot?
Pension provision should be considered during all divorce proceedings in order to repair gender inequality, the Pension Policy Institute (PPI) charity and workplace pensions provider now:pensions have said
Government moving 'too far too fast' on cryptoassets?
‘Over-regulating’ the cryptoassets sector could stifle growth when the government brings regulations into force in 2027, a digital assets lawyer has warned
Guideline hourly rates on the rise
Solicitors received a new year’s boost this month with the announcement of an uplift to the guideline hourly rates
Existing framework sufficient to regulate AI, says Law Society
There’s no need to change the rules or introduce more legislation to regulate the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the legal sector, the Law Society has said this week in its response to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology’s call for evidence on the AI Growth Lab
Copyright © 2026 LexisNexis
back-to-top-scroll