Noted historian and former Former UK Supreme Court Justice Lord Sumption is adamant free speech is under threat in liberal democracies.

The Free Speech Union has brought Lord Sumption to New Zealand as the keynote speaker for their AGM and conference- and as part of a wider speaking tour.

Lord Sumption says people are no longer inclined to accept dissent or opposing opinions on various issues.

"The willingness to accept dissent, to accept the possibility that most people may think that you're wrong, that you may not succeed in getting your own ideas accepted by democratic Governments and parliaments- the inclination to accept these things is diminishing."

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