{"id":39546,"date":"2025-09-03T07:47:55","date_gmt":"2025-09-03T07:47:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/demo4.dedicatedhost247.com\/news\/graham-linehan-arrest-government-needs-to-look-at-whether-police-getting-balance-right-says-wes-streeting-politics-news\/"},"modified":"2025-09-03T07:47:55","modified_gmt":"2025-09-03T07:47:55","slug":"graham-linehan-arrest-government-needs-to-look-at-whether-police-getting-balance-right-says-wes-streeting-politics-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/demo4.dedicatedhost247.com\/news\/graham-linehan-arrest-government-needs-to-look-at-whether-police-getting-balance-right-says-wes-streeting-politics-news\/","title":{"rendered":"Graham Linehan arrest: Government ‘needs to look at whether police getting balance right’, says Wes Streeting | Politics News"},"content":{"rendered":"


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The government needs to look at whether police are “getting the balance right”, Wes Streeting has said after the arrest of the co-writer of Father Ted over posts on social media. <\/p>\n

Graham Linehan, who also created the Black Books and The IT Crowd comedies, said on Tuesday he was arrested at Heathrow Airport<\/a> <\/strong>over posts on X sharing his views on trans rights.<\/p>\n

The health secretary told Sky News with Wilfred Frost<\/a><\/strong> that he can’t comment on the specifics of the case as operational police decisions are “rightly independent of politicians”.<\/p>\n

However, Mr Streeting said more generally that the government would rather see “police on the streets rather than policing tweets”.<\/p>\n

The cabinet member added: “It’s the easiest thing in the world for people to criticise the police, but they are enforcing laws that parliament has passed and asked them to enforce.<\/p>\n

“So if we haven’t got the balance right, as Parliament over successive governments, that is something that we need to look at because the Home Secretary is very clear about what her priorities are”.<\/p>\n

He said that those priorities are neighbourhood policing and keeping borders safe.<\/p>\n

Writing on Substack, Lineham said that after flying into the UK from Arizona, he was detained by five armed officers at Heathrow Airport and put in a cell before being questioned over posts published on X in April. He added that officials became concerned for his health after taking his blood pressure and he was taken to hospital.<\/p>\n

The arrest has drawn criticism from opposition politicians.<\/p>\n

Shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick said the incident was “ridiculous and a complete waste of police time”.<\/p>\n

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said he would raise the case when he gives evidence to the House Judiciary Committee in Washington on free speech in the UK during a hearing on Wednesday, The Sun reported.<\/p>\n

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\n Nigel Farage will raise the case in Washington. Pic: PA
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JK Rowling, whose views on trans rights have come under criticism, also waded into the row, posting on X: “What the f*** has the UK become? This is totalitarianism. Utterly deplorable.”<\/p>\n

Sir Keir Starmer’s official spokesman said it was an operational matter for the police when asked about the arrest yesterday.<\/p>\n

He added: “The prime minister and the home secretary have been clear about where their priorities for crime and policing are, and that’s tackling anti-social behaviour, shoplifting, street crime, as well as reducing serious violent crimes like knife crime and violence against women”.<\/p>\n

Asked whether the government agreed with the Harry Potter author’s claim that the UK was now a “totalitarian” state, the spokesman said: “No.”<\/p>\n

A Met Police spokeswoman confirmed an arrest was made at Heathrow on Monday but did not identify Linehan.<\/p>\n

In a statement, the force said: “On Monday 1 September at 1pm officers arrested a man at Heathrow Airport after he arrived on an inbound American Airlines flight.<\/p>\n

“The man in his 50s was arrested on suspicion of inciting violence. This is in relation to posts on X.<\/p>\n

“After being taken to police custody, officers became concerned for his health and he was taken to hospital. His condition is neither life-threatening nor life-changing.<\/p>\n

“He has now been bailed pending further investigation.”<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n


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