Bishop accused of stifling free speech

Filmmaker Ken Loach has accused the Bishop of Edinburgh of stifling free speech after he refused to let a Palestinian rights group hold a meeting inside a church.

Episcopalian Bishop John Armes turned down a request by the Scottish Palestine Sol- idarity Campaign (SPSC) to meet at St Columba’s Church earlier this week.

Thebishop said he refused as the meeting could encourage antisemitism.

But award-winning filmmaker Loach has now signed an open letter to the bishop to reverse his decision, which was also signed by Harry Potter actress Miriam Margolyes.

Mr Loach said: “It really is an appalling decision and should be reversed.”

The bishop said: “We seek friendly relationships with people of every faith.”