[ethbr1]

A big part of this is caused by (as I understand it, open to correction!) the UK's fundamental lack of free speech rights (by individuals and groups).

The UK has free(ish) speech, that usually works well enough in practice, for most things.

But at the end of the day if the UK government and/or security services and/or wealthy people want to really put their foot on suppressing speech... they have legal tools to do so.

The UK has never really squared the circle on free speech even and especially when it's inconvenient to power.

That's a binary right. Either you have it, or you don't.