As UK-US trade talks progress under the Trump administration, pressure is mounting on Keir Starmer to roll back UK hate speech laws, particularly those protecting LGBT+ groups, as a precondition for a trade deal. US vice president JD Vance has reportedly made free speech a 'red line’, linking Britain’s legal stance on hate speech with broader concerns over the decline of Western civilisation and the erosion of civil liberties. The Biden administration had pursued a different tone, but now the USA is demanding that Britain repeal digital safety laws and abandon plans for online censorship, particularly after high-profile incidents involving arrests on social media and pro-life advocates. Labour leaders, however, have pushed back, stating hate speech laws are not part of the negotiations. While both governments hope to remove tariffs and foster growth in future industries like AI and biotech, this clash over values and legal protections presents a significant obstacle.