Member

Clause 20 does not threaten free speech. My noble friend Lady Carberry set out the case in a very compelling way—much better than I am able to do—but it is important to reiterate that there has been a lot of misinformation and inaccuracy about what this clause will require of employers and its impact on freedom of expression. To take a couple of examples, this clause will not require employers to foresee the wholly unforeseeable or to control every customer’s private conversations. It will not require pub landlords or anybody else to act as the banter police. It will not silence football fans or require hotels to eject patrons because of their fashion choices. Harassment requires more than a subjective offence-taking—I daresay that the noble Lord, Lord Young, was fully aware of this before he tabled his amendment.