Election contender arrested over `freedom of speech' row

From the archive, first published Friday 29th Apr 2005.

A Halesowen and Rowley Regis parliamentary candidate was arrested to prevent a breach of the peace after she `gatecrashed' a political debate.

UKIP candidate Nikki Sinclaire (pictured right) was arrested on Monday night after police were called to the Birmingham Hippodrome where a Birmingham-based gay rights group was holding a `Queer Question Time' event.

The Birmingham Community Pride Trust had invited parliamentary candidates from the Labour, Conservative and Liberal Democrats parties to debate election issues.

Nikki, who is openly gay, objected to being excluded from the debate.

She said: "This issue is about free speech. If we can't have free speech in this country what does that say about society?

"On Monday night I was fighting for the right for free speech and to protest as it was a public meeting.

"Why should the Liberal Democrats be allowed to attend when they are not challenging all of the area's seats, whilst UKIP are contesting all 59 seats. I felt the event was unfair to other parties and I think the Green Party should have been allowed to attend as well".

Nikki was taken to Steelhouse Lane police station and released at 9.45pm with no further action taken.

A group of 50 people gathered outside the police station to protest about the arrest but were later dispersed.

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