Leftie activists trying to silence newspapers they dislike are attacking the very basis of our democracy

It is one of the most worrying features of the modern world that free speech is coming under attack – even in societies that claim to be liberal and tolerant.

So far in 2017 there have been 51 journalists murdered simply for doing their job, and 181 have been jailed.

We are seeing newspapers collapsing, and as good journalism becomes tougher to fund we are seeing people become ever more vulnerable to government propaganda and fake news.

Last month the British government stepped in with £1million for projects to support the free media across the world.

We in this government believe that free speech is an integral part of a free society.

We believe that a free press is not only morally right; without a free press any society will eventually suffer from corruption and economic decay.

We can rightly be proud of the British tradition of free speech – dating from the triumphs of John Wilkes in the 18th century – that was part of the reason this country rose to economic and political greatness.

So it is incredible to find that this freedom of expression is now under vicious attack – in our own country.

A small but dedicated group of left-wing activists has launched a campaign to undermine the financial base of some newspapers whose views they dislike.

They have attacked the advertisers who help to fund those newspapers, and who make it possible for reporters to bring new facts into the public domain.

The tactic of this campaign – misleadingly called “Stop Funding Hate” - is to urge a boycott of all companies who place advertisements in the Sun, the Daily Mail or the Daily Express.

This week they even attacked the NSPCC – a much loved national charity – for the sin of running a promotion in the Sunday Express.

It is deeply disturbing to learn that this campaign is beginning to have an effect. Last year Lego dropped all advertising in the Daily Mail, and actually apologised to its customers.

In recent weeks Paperchase and Pizza Hut have followed suit.

I believe that these decisions are sad and mistaken and indeed cowardly.

It is not as if this internet campaign commands overwhelming public support. Despite all the noise and virulence of their campaign, there are said to be fewer than a thousand people who are actively involved.

And these companies should realise that they are bowing to a ruse – the attack on advertisers – that comes straight from some of the worst authoritarian regimes in the world.

As for those who are mounting the campaigns, they do not seem to appreciate the irony of what they are doing.

They may not like the editorial line of these publications, or the way in which they cover certain issues.

But this country has the world’s strongest laws against libel and defamation.

We have highly progressive legislation against hate speech and the whipping up of prejudice of any kind.

By attempting to drive some newspapers underground they risk fomenting a further sense of alienation in the public – and pushing some into the arms of extremists.

They are not sticking up for liberal values. They are not sticking up for freedom.

They are attacking the freedom which is the foundation of our democracy.

They should remember the great French sage Voltaire, who summed up the approach that has served Britain well for generations.

“I may not agree with what you say. But I defend to the death your right to say it.”