There’s a very unhealthy movement afoot to ruin the career of anyone foolish enough to make any remark at which it takes offence.

The aim of this group of angry zealots is to shut down debate expressing views different from its own.

Boris Johnson is the latest target for his comment in the Daily Telegraph that ‘women who wear face veils look like letter boxes’.

It’s not the most erudite turn of phrase but it hardly merits the screaming protests.

Some people are demanding a public apology, which Mr Johnson has categorically rejected and good for him. Someone has to stem this insidious attack on our freedom of speech and clearly it isn’t our Prime Minister who has the backbone of a jellyfish.

Some people decree that only sentiments in accordance with their own can be expressed and in a language they approve.

This is the kind of unofficial censorship that outraged so many American voters and ultimately led to the election of President Trump.

We must guard our freedom of speech against those who would gag anyone expressing an alternative view.

Freedom of speech is one Britain’s finest qualities.

By Vic Barlow