A Westminster think tank has today called for the scrapping of a law which it claims is being used to constrain freedom of speech.

Civitas is calling for the abolition of Section 5 of the Public Order Act, which has been criticised by free-speech campaigners.

David Green, director of Civitas, said: "The freedom to speak our minds without fear or favour is an important part of the live and let live ethos that has typified this country for centuries.

"Throughout most of human history the suppression of unwelcome opinions has been normal, and open societies in which we try to conduct arguments without violence have been a great human achievement.

"Speech laws are an attempt to return to the primitive ways we have left behind."

The think tank has today published a book, Feel Free To Say It, which says Britain is sacrificing its commitment to freedom of speech to protect people from hearing views they do not like.

According to author Philip Johnston, a raft of laws from recent decades are having "a significant and deeply chilling effect" on speech in public.

He warned the law is being used to constrain opinions "because some people may not like them", and claimed the UK was in danger of "throwing away the freedom that makes all other liberties possible".

Home Secretary Theresa May said ministers planned to drop the word "insulting" from Section 5, which saw a number of spurious arrests and court cases.

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Freedom Of Speech At Risk Says Think Tank