Overview

• A US State Department delegation, led by senior adviser Samuel Samson, visited the UK in March 2025 to investigate free speech concerns.
• The team interviewed five UK activists arrested for silently praying or engaging in consensual conversations outside abortion clinics.
• US officials expressed concerns about the UK's buffer zone laws and broader free speech issues, citing their impact on human rights and American interests.
• Vice-President JD Vance criticized the UK's approach to free speech, describing it as 'in retreat' during a Munich Security Conference address.
• The issue has complicated UK-US trade discussions, with US tariffs on UK goods linked to the Trump administration's stance on free expression.