Recent Efforts to Regulate Expression by Conservatives in the UK and the US Highlight a Shift Toward Illiberalism

onservative politicians in the UK and the US are making headlines for regulatory efforts targeting core free speech principles under the guise of protecting members of the public from harm. Four days prior to the coronation of King Charles III – a coincidence according to the UK government – the controversial Public Order Act 2023 (POA 2023), introduced by former Home Secretary Priti Patel, received royal assent. The application of the new law, in conjunction with the expansive powers granted to police under prior legislation, led to the controversial targeting and arrest of dozens of peaceful anti-monarchy protesters during the coronation proceedings. In the US, Republicans are responsible for a flurry of recent regulations censoring expression concerning sexual orientation, race, and other issues at the forefront of the so-called ‘culture war’ in public school classrooms and libraries across the country. These regulatory efforts highlight the increasingly illiberal posture of conservative parties in these countries, which undermines shared democratic values and reflects a broader shift toward the use of anti-democratic means to achieve political ends.