Opinion

This new puritanism would drive anyone to drink Sunday January 10, 2010 As smokers told you they would, the puritans have now switched their censorious gaze from cigarettes to wine and beer, writes Nick Cohen in The Observer

If we are all under suspicion, then we are all threatened Tuesday January 5, 2010 People meekly accept official behaviour, even if they might strongly suspect it is the police who are behaving illegally, writes Dominic Lawson in the Independent.

2009: bad year for civil liberties in Britain Thursday December 31, 2009 Sadly the government has not lost its ambition to create a highly controlled and monitored society – but it’s not all bad news, writes Henry Porter

Death of free speech: Is Britain becoming the censorship capital of the world? Monday December 21, 2009 Britain has a reputation as the home of free speech, writes Melanie Phillips in the Daily Mail. Now it is developing a reputation as the country where free speech is being steadily suppressed

Cigarettes and civil liberties: enough is enough Thursday March 27, 2008 Proposal to ban the display of cigarettes in shops gets a cool response from the British media

How did Britain become a Stasi state? Thursday February 7, 2008 Britain used to be proud of its freedoms, writes Stephen Glover. What is going on today was unthinkable 30 years ago

"Ban exemplifies everything that is wrong with Labour" Friday February 1, 2008 Rod Liddle hates the smoking ban more than the Iraq war