The British government has a very peculiar definition of freedom. In a Sunday interview with the BBC explaining new restrictions on protest, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood implied that freedom is something the public shouldn't exercise freely if it bothers others. And the sentiment is bipartisan.

"This is not about a ban. This is about restrictions and conditions," Mahmood said. "Just because you have a freedom doesn't mean you have to use it at every moment of every day," she added.

She added that police will have to strike a "balance" between "allowing people to protest, which is an ancient freedom in this country" and "the rights of the wider community to go about their business free from intimidation and fear."

Kemi Badenoch, leader of the opposition Conservative Party, agreed with

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