Jason Tanner is a UK News, Consumer & Royal Commentator & an experienced top-qualified broadcast journalist . He's an advocate for free speech & modern democracy; Both are under attack and his response was the launch of the defend uk campaign, galvanising a new independent people-powered movement. There's more Free speech news from defend's Independent Digital News. Tap for more background
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The Defend Free Speech campaign is growing and can also be found directly at www.defendUK.uk
Jason's commentary often highlights the lesser known link between British Monarchy and modern democracy worldwide.
The mission common to News & Comment by Jason Tanner, the defend uk campaign and associated Independent Digital News is to help people deepen understanding of free speech and its role as a central pillar of democracy; to help them spot the threats for themselves and prevent free speech being 'stolen' from them.
If you'd like email updates when news gets published then please email News & Comment: jason@jasontanner.uk or hello@defenduk.uk
Latest News & Comment
Latest News & Comment
Consumer - Retail
Up the Amazon without an Asda - Can two titans of shopping deliver? Not such a great week for the unfortunate big shopping names that crossed the path of News & Consumer Commentator, Jason Tanner, and all for the sake of some glassware costing less than £20. Wednesday 28th July 2026
Consumer - Retail
Up the Amazon without an Asda - Can two titans of shopping deliver? Not such a great week for the unfortunate big shopping names that crossed the path of News & Consumer Commentator, Jason Tanner, and all for the sake of some glassware costing less than £20. Wednesday 28th July 2026
Free speech- Elon Musk & Starmer
Despite his departure, the Defend Campaign for fairer free speech staunchly backs Starmer's outgoing warning of a substantial threat by Elon Musk to national democracy and security Tuesday 21 July 2026
Free speech- Elon Musk & Starmer
Despite his departure, the Defend Campaign for fairer free speech staunchly backs Starmer's outgoing warning of a substantial threat by Elon Musk to national democracy and security Tuesday 21 July 2026
User hint: Click headlines / titles to reveal article text Copy buttons for article links are usually located to the right of the headlines
User hint: Click headlines / titles to reveal article text Copy buttons for article links are usually located to the right of the headlines
defend uk empowers others to write and showcase their thoughts about free speech and democracy. Please contribute links or articles for its IDN, or Independent Digital News network
The right of reply will become a key mantra of defend uk and this website as a whole
Contents:
Up the Amazon without an Asda - Can two titans of shopping deliver? writes News & Consumer Commentator, Jason Tanner, Wednesday 28th July 2026
Up the Amazon without an Asda - Can two titans of shopping deliver? writes News & Consumer Commentator, Jason Tanner, Wednesday 28th July 2026
Speaking freely could cause death if you are gay - 12 countries condemned as Summer Pride takes hold globally, writes Jason Tanner from the Defend uk Campaign Thursday 16th July 2026
Speaking freely could cause death if you are gay - 12 countries condemned as Summer Pride takes hold globally, writes Jason Tanner from the Defend uk Campaign Thursday 16th July 2026
King Charles delivers a remarkable speech to the U.S Congress in defence of modern democracy Transcript and footage here 28th April 2026
King Charles delivers a remarkable speech to the U.S Congress in defence of modern democracy Transcript and footage here 28th April 2026
Fake News on X is a big threat to Free Speech On the one-week anniversary of its creation, the Defend UK Campaign for Free Speech has issued a warning that free speech without consequence will be the death of free speech itself. (24th March 2026)
Fake News on X is a big threat to Free Speech On the one-week anniversary of its creation, the Defend UK Campaign for Free Speech has issued a warning that free speech without consequence will be the death of free speech itself. (24th March 2026)
defend uk Campaign will fight 'the theft of free speech' and break 'the shackles of the algorithm' Media Planning Note for Launch Tuesday 10th March 2026 Embargoed materials, interviews and other opportunities will be available by arrangement before and on the day
Trust in Elon Musk and X plummets as insider reveals the causes
New discovery reveals media manipulation by X's owner November 6, 2025 (First published via Pulse)
About the site
Why Jason Tanner wants to protect free speech and democracy
What are your thoughts on the news and comment pieces above?
HM King Charles III Photograph by Millie Pilkington 2024
King Charles delivers a remarkable speech to the U.S Congress in defence of modern democracy Transcript and footage here 28th April 2026
King Charles delivers a remarkable speech to the U.S Congress in defence of modern democracy Transcript and footage here 28th April 2026
Even hardened republicans couldn't fail to admire the speech delivered to the U.S Congress by HM King Charles III during a state visit to mark the 250th Anniversary of the USA. It was skillfully written & factually based.
Is 'Strong Calmness' the way to get ahead and stay ahead in your career at the top of an organisation? Commentator & royal historian, Jason Tanner reflects on modern executive leadership qualities in the centenary week of the birth of Queen Elizabeth II . Monday 20th April 2026
Is 'Strong Calmness' the way to get ahead and stay ahead in your career at the top of an organisation? Commentator & royal historian, Jason Tanner reflects on modern executive leadership qualities in the centenary week of the birth of Queen Elizabeth II . Monday 20th April 2026
On the one-week anniversary of its creation, the Defend UK Campaign for Free Speech has issued a warning that free speech without consequence will be the death of free speech itself. It comes as researchers track levels of misinformation and AI generated Iran War images. (24th March 2026)
How do we defend free speech in the future? Fairness must accompany free speech to help it survive. Tuesday 10th March 2026
How do we defend free speech in the future? Fairness must accompany free speech to help it survive. Tuesday 10th March 2026
How do we defend free speech in the future? Fairness must now accompany free speech to help it survive. *
Defend will encourage the adoption of Fairness in its work to stop Fairer or Fair Free Speech being hijacked by a minority to the harm of the majority populations its meant to serve. The addition of fairness alongside free speech will help remind the good and the bad that free speech cannot be taken hostage or owned by one platform or another because it's always an aspiration that is rarely achieved. The problem is that powerful platforms such as X are allowing the presentation of themselves as the only source of news, truth and free speech. These emerging claims are deeply damaging to free speech and democratic processes, especially if media literacy is poor amongst consumers who may be unaware of how free speech is being manipulated and re-packaged..
On the day defend launched it also published its first manifesto to protect outlining its vision and scope of operation.
'Fairness' must unite with free speech to help its survival'
The campaign’s founder is Jason Tanner, a former UK charity communications chief and broadcast journalist. In explaining the need to link fairness with the ancient concept of free speech he said:
“ Free speech came about two and a half thousand years ago via Athens but in recent times, we’ve become careless and simply assumed it’ll be there forever. But people rarely stop and think about what it is or even its key role in supporting modern democracy. It could be stolen from us in a flash. The modern world and some rather dark forces are putting it under great strain at the moment and we need to wake up.
“Changes in technologies, politicians and media ownership are starting to suffocate what is actually a dream because if you stand-back and think for a moment, Free Speech is rarely, if ever achieved universally unless you are talking to yourself. The actual reality is also about getting heard if you have something to say and at the moment, humans are facing a confusing maze of smoke and mirrors and an array of doors labelled fake, truth, history and accuracy. We are left wondering which door we should open, if any?”
Jason Tanner has written his analysis of free speech in an extended essay that now forms part of the resources and definitions pages that are also being launched as part of the Defend campaign's Manifesto to Protect and the switch-on of the Defend campaign website.
Jason continues:
“Because free speech is actually an aspiration or a dream that can't really be universally achieved we should be talking about aiming for fairer free speech or fair speech. Our measure of success is how close we get to the dream. This is because significant parts of social media now owned by a cery tiny minority are blasting people with claims that they are the only source of free speech, news and truth. Such assertions are extremely dangerous especially when we haven’t properly equipped people with the literacy skills now needed to understand what is at stake.
"It’s a huge subject with polarised views on what free speech should actually look like but significant and global changes in politics and media ownership have had steep and dramatic affects on our ability to hear and be heard.
"Free speech is being weaponized by some politicians and media owners in ways that it hasn’t been previously. Even within the last few weeks, Reuters news agency reported that the state department within Trump’s administration was looking at ways to allow people in the UK or EU to access online material that governments may have regulated in their elected duty to protect vulnerable people from hate speech or other harmful content. Some Americans, but not all, believe that people should be able to say and consume whatever they like, whatever the consequence."
But research by Defend, and others, is showing significant and powerful media sympathetic to the Trump administration is actively controlling the flow of information to people, creating an obvious hypocrisy in controlling the information that people receive and the ability of people to receive it. Algorithms and bots are therefore being used to fuffocate free speech.
Defend along with other researchers have amassed countless examples where the platform X, formerly known as Twitter, uses familiar, but often faceless ‘mouthpiece’ accounts to assert that X is the Number 1 source for News and increasingly, the repeated suggestion is that it is the only source of truth.
Jason says: “When I use London as a backdrop to the evolution of modern democracy I’ve developed a warning that I issue to people about to listen. It revolves around another widely misunderstood concept that is used too liberally and without sufficient thought. It even gives us a clue within the word itself. The word is ‘His-Story”. They are about to receive ‘his-story or ‘my-story’ but it's also highly possible that ‘her-story’ may be even more accurate.
“And that leads to the other very abused words that surround us every day at the moment. Those words are ‘Truth’ and ‘Fake’. Truth might as well be re-written more accurately as ‘his-truth’. Accuracy is a far more…'accurate' measuring stick to try and navigate the information jungle we are now presented with.
"I’m hoping by now that the use of the word Fake explains itself to you. Fake and Truth are now being used as weapons against the people and Free Speech has been kidnapped , acting as as their spokesman. But by linking fairness to the concept of free speech, you give a constant reminder that no-one let a lone a single media outlet, has the right to claim Free Speech entirely for themselves. That’s far too dangerous."
More information will reveal as the day progresses though media are welcome to call for interviews or assistance and further background
Jason Tanner jason@jasontanner.uk or hello@defenduk.UK or +44 07941 433598
defend uk campaign is on Facebook
Notes for Editors
Jason Tanner is the founder of the defend uk campaign and a news commentator when time allows. He was the last Chief Press Officer for the National Trust before a major reorganisation saw it move its London HQ to Swindon . Amongst many projects, Jason revealed to the world's media the Trust's acquisition of a rare survival of 'slum housing' in Birmingham and was part of the team, that worked with Sir Anthony Hopkins in a race to save Snowdon for the nation some 20 plus years ago. When the Trust relocated, Jason headed up media relations for Dame Elisabeth Hoodless at CSV (now Volunteering Matters) and worked closely with key national journalists on a project that placed pioneering volunteers within the families of children at risk. He also headed a talented team that put volunteers squarely on the map as CSV took the lead on the Year of the Volunteer, 2005 leading to the climactic efforts of the Olympic Volunteers of 2012. He also dealt with the enormous international media attention generated when the government of the time launched its ill-fated Big Society. He started the first 5 years of his career working as a radio journalist for both BBC Southern Counties and as the Senior Broadcast Journalist at Mercury FM & Mercury Extra.
* Additional Notes on updates
Original headline was: New campaign to defend from attacks on free speech relaunches within minutes of its launch (this was the launch headline which was replaced on 14/03/26). The original version also invited readers to @Take a look at the Branding & Logos section for more background to the incorporation of fairness into the preliminary pre-launch branding."
Facebook selected as first social media gateway into the defend uk Campaign for free speech & democracy on eve of launch Announced by volunteer founder, Jason Tanner. Monday 9th March 2026
Facebook selected as first social media gateway into the defend uk Campaign for free speech & democracy on eve of launch Announced by volunteer founder, Jason Tanner. Monday 9th March 2026
Facebook announced as first social media gateway to the defend uk Campaign for Free Speech which launches 00:01 Tuesday 10th March 2026
In a purely randomised process, Facebook has become the first direct social media portal for the Defend uk Campaign which launches tomorrow with the publication of its Manifesto to Protect against today's very real threats to Free Speech.
The manifesto to 'protect the people, by the people' will become public in the early hours of the morning once an embargo of 00:01 Tuesday 10th March 2026) has passed.
Although the speculation is that it will initially lead on threats posed by social media itself, the founder is adamant there's no double-standards in picking one of the big name platforms to help raise an army of community-based volunteers to prevent Free Speech being hi-jacked infront of the peoples' noses.
The Facebook page in the last few hours is being set up at: https://www.facebook.com/share/1d8LS77S2N/ or search for Defend uk Campaign once logged in to your account . Launch information is on the holding page for the campaign's new website www.defenduk.UK/defend where the branding is also revealed.
Making the announcement, Jason Tanner, founder, journalist and first volunteer recruit of the Defend uk Campaign said:
"Defend is not about pulling up the drawbridge to the big players increasingly implicated in controlling the peoples' free speech, but about finding ways to redress a balance tipping badly in the wrong direction. We want them as part of the conversation, but not directing it.
"The consumers of social media should be viewed as unpaid workers making profits for platforms so they should be given the equivalent of shares and associated say in their governance and direction.
"But they can't do this without a bit of help in understanding the threats and why they need more control as both consumer and unpaid content providers and verifiers. That's one of the big challenges facing Free Speech but certainly not the only one. In terms of helping people understand the threats, they also need help in understanding that Free Speech is a central pillar of the modern democracy they live in but that's often taken for granted. They go hand-in-hand."
Materials under the embargo are available today and interview opportunities are possible throughout Tuesday 10th March by contacting Jason direct (details below).
hello@defenduk.uk will be the email address to welcome community activists and volunteers interested in donating time to help re-take control and acting as guardians of free speech.
Amongst initial research findings being highlighted and the launch of the first manifesto , Jason Tanner will also call for a fundamental change in how we refer to Free Speech as an easy - quick win to strengthen its protection from would-be 'hijackers'.
Media contact for launch : jason@jasontanner.uk direct, or via hello@defenduk.uk +44 07941 433598
The main media release for the launch of the campaign can be accessed via www.defenduk.UK/news or more directly via https://www.defenduk.uk/news#h.58qwmsu2acg1
New defend uk Campaign will fight 'the theft of free speech' and break 'the shackles of the algorithm' Media Planning Note for Launch Tuesday 10th March 2026. Embargoed materials, interviews and other opportunities will be made available by arrangement before and on the day
New defend uk Campaign will fight 'the theft of free speech' and break 'the shackles of the algorithm' Media Planning Note for Launch Tuesday 10th March 2026. Embargoed materials, interviews and other opportunities will be made available by arrangement before and on the day
The countdown is on for the launch of the peoples'
The defend uk campaign being launched on Tuesday 10th March 2026 is a direct response to current threats facing free speech and often channelled through social media. It will work to put ownership of free speech back in the hands of the people it was meant for.
The defend uk campaign will push back on today's threats; Expose manipulation; Strengthen media literacy; Support independent journalism; and help the population understand how information is shaped, filtered, and weaponised.
The campaign, originating in the UK is founded by a former NGO communications chief and broadcast journalist, Jason Tanner.
Jason, who led talented media teams at two major UK charities will reveal a fundamental and simple update needed to the language of free speech to help protect it and will highlight some of the current threats and enemies and the tactics used. Based on research, Jason Tanner will reveal defend uk 's first Manifesto to Protect free speech and its mission to galvanise a community-based volunteer army.
It's intended to be an independent, people-led campaign to firstly amplify awareness of the dangers and then recruit an army of volunteers of all ages and backgrounds to take action within communities to redress the balance.
The defend uk campaign will push back on today's threats; Expose manipulation; Strengthen media literacy; Support independent journalism; and help the population understand how information is shaped, filtered, and weaponised.
It is built on evidence and a belief that democracy only works when people can genuinely speak — and be heard — without an algorithm deciding their worth.
The defend campaign will formally launch on Tuesday 10th March 2026 with it's first 'Manifesto to Protect 'and the firing-up of the new campaign's website. The campaign's work started privately behind the scenes as a matter of urgency, a year ago.
Embargoed materials, interviews and other opportunities will be made available by arrangement before and on the day of the launch. Applicable embargo for these elements will be 00:01 on Tuesday 10th March 2026 The campaign's full website will go live on launch day via www.defenduk.uk/defend
Any media looking for a tailored pre-launch exclusive should get in touch to discuss as soon as possible. You can also register to receive embargoed media information ahead of launch day as well as embargoed key web page links for the campaign. Please contact jason@jasontanner.uk
Notes for Editors
Jason Tanner is the founder of the defend uk campaign and a news commentator when time allows. He was the last Chief Press Officer for the National Trust before a major reorganisation saw it move its London HQ to Swindon . Amongst many projects, Jason revealed to the world's media the Trust's acquisition of a rare survival of 'slum housing' in Birmingham and was part of the team, that worked with Sir Anthony Hopkins in a race to save Snowdon for the nation some 20 plus years ago. When the Trust relocated, Jason headed up media relations for Dame Elisabeth Hoodless at CSV (now Volunteering Matters) and worked closely with key national journalists on a project that placed pioneering volunteers within the families of children at risk. He also headed a talented team that put volunteers squarely on the map as CSV took the lead on the Year of the Volunteer, 2005 leading to the climactic efforts of the Olympic Volunteers of 2012. He also dealt with the enormous international media attention generated when the government of the time launched its ill-fated Big Society. He started the first 5 years of his career working as a radio journalist for both BBC Southern Counties and as the Senior Broadcast Journalist at Mercury FM & Mercury Extra.
Washington restaurants, covid dust and Venezuelan oil boosting the U.S economy. All featured in Trump's rambling Davos speech 21st January 2026
Washington restaurants, covid dust and Venezuelan oil boosting the U.S economy. All featured in Trump's rambling Davos speech 21st January 2026
Within the last hour, Donald Trump, President of the USA has finished answering questions and completed his extraordinary address to Davos 26, the showcase of the World Economic Forum where he received a very muted reception from onlookers; the applause being very weak, writes news commentator, Jason Tanner. (21/01/26)
It is still hard to know what his structured global economic strategy is.
During the speech, there were several unexpected and fairly unconnected sentences that included references to restaurants in Washington, fish & drugs and in one breath he linked disease and the military in a way that was hard to comprehend. He also talked randomly in terms of Covid coming from dust. During his 45 minute address, there was little consolation offered for the people of Somalia from his tone and words. Somalia is currently facing a humanitarian crisis in a country dealing with bloody internal division.
However, he did say the USA has no plans to take Greenland by force despite confusion over previous statements he has made. At WEN's Davos, President Trump said: "I don't have to use force" which of course is an unusual turn of phrase considering America's agreed responsibilities as member of Nato. Article 5 forbids one Nato member invading another.
As a point of historical reference, President Harry Truman offered to buy Greenland after the Second World War for $1.5 billion though this was declined. However the resulting agreement invited the USA to position as many troops as it felt it needed on the island to assist national & international peace. The USA started to withdraw its presence as the world agenda changed post war.
Analysis: Continued Inconsistencies from Trump
To my mind, his post speech interview highlighted another inconsistency. Trump said "We've got a lot of oil coming out of Venezuela" when considering future economic growth for the USA. I'd have thought that raises questions about motives for the USA's recent removal of the President of Venezuela into American custody on a different pretext of harmful drug imports. Trump cited this reason for his actions, claiming any country can resort to law when threatened by harmful imports. My comment on that particular defence by Trump, which the United Nations will need to consider, is that it begs the question regarding known harmful exports originating from the USA such as cigarettes. Even today, the cigarette, invented in the USA in the 1860s is linked to 8 million deaths worldwide. It look the persistence of scientists such as the UK's Professor Richard Doll years of persistence and additional research against very strong counter-lobbying from the American tobacco industry to show that smoking was indeed harmful during the 1950s and 60s.
Jason Tanner:
Background: With his career launching as a Broadcast Journalist, Jason Tanner developed expertise in wide ranging disciplines such as politics,; democracy, free speech and monarchy; cancer research, heritage, tourism, entertainment, volunteering and -training. He progressed to a senior level in both media and communications. This followed five years as a broadcast journalist for BBC and Independent Local Radio including Radio Mercury FM & BBC Surrey / Southern Counties. He has led talented and successful teams for major NGOs including the National Trust and the national volunteering & training charity CSV, (now Volunteering Matters). He is also active in the London tourism industry and has welcomed 10,000 people to date. His background as a broadcaster and communications specialist has always been more than just delivering messages; it is about revealing the positive impact behind his narrative based on people within our communities. Today, he combines his two distinct but deeply connected passions.
Stance: Jason Tanner has no fixed alliance to any political party and has no hesitation in stating he has so far voted in every national & local election and at different times for the Conservatives, Labour, Liberal Democrats and the Green Party. In his current role as an independent commentator, communications professional and freelance journalist, he is able to work for different broadcasters, publishers and organisations. Jason firmly believes that legacy and social media need coexistence if the privilege of free speech is to be enriched by the existence of a wide selection of sources and opinions. He's a passionate supporter of trained and untrained citizen journalism but follows the UK broadcast principles he learnt in training of ensuring the opposite view point can speak also.
No-one is perfect so please do contact Jason if you feel something needs to be said or corrected . He strongly feels that there should be a right of reply if someone or an organisation that is mentioned feels it needs to respond.
e: jason@jasontanner.uk
t: +44 7941 433598
w: Jason Tanner
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasontanner-uk
Social Media: Threads @jason_sixpence | BlueSky @jasonmtanner.bsky.social | Twitter @jasontanner100 | YouTube @JasonTannerNews
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Will Grok's unwitting creation of harmful porn and the response of Elon Musk's X to the public outcry be the gamechanger people are waiting for?
Will Grok's unwitting creation of harmful porn and the response of Elon Musk's X to the public outcry be the gamechanger people are waiting for?
- UK announces new laws relating to consent January 12th 2026 (First shorter version published)
- UK announces new laws relating to consent January 12th 2026 (First shorter version published)
January 12th 2026 (First shorter version published)
Response by communications specialist, Jason Tanner
In my book, if anyone disagrees with the notion of the UK government urgently passing laws to protect children and other vulnerable people from others using AI tech such as Grok to create & publish pornographic images of them, then they needs urgent medical help or locking up.
Who on X's recent chatter-sphere will still continue to frame this type of action by the UK as an abuse of free speech? The ongoing accusations against the Government and Britain as a whole from a range of frankly curious and unaccountable profiles who never answer queries is extraordinary. The only consolation was that the noise had to eventually die down when it became clear it could no longer continue or extremely serious questions would be asked..
All of this of course was happening under the watchful gaze of the editor in chief of X, Elon, (friends of Donald Trump) who would sometimes say or do something to egg them on.
X / Twitter reacted very badly and irresponsibly. Too many different vulnerable people raise issues and receive unhelpful responses from a system that is not fit for purpose.
Journalists get highlighted for getting things wrong and human mistakes are made but Twitter appears fine to work on the premise that the mistakes can be made before checking has been done.
These days anyone should be very careful before opting to use Twitter as a fair, balanced arena for debate and fair dissemination of information due to the now well known and documented use of algorithms and control of messaging The vision has gone seriously wrong and an illusion of free speech continues to be perpetuated when it doesn't actually exist in a conventionally accepted way on X.
Jason now operates independently as a trained journalist and commentator amongst many other passions. For myself, I've chosen to continue to listen to what X is publishing it's and what is being said about free speech, and the world in general, but would not choose to invest money in it, or use it to promote other campaigns or engage much further than that. Regrettably, the brand in my eyes at least, has turned toXic and I'm not convinced it's conducive of good global mental health from what i or others have been researching. (Revised & updated version of post from 12/01/26) jasontanner.uk
Background: With his career launching as a Broadcast Journalist, Jason Tanner developed expertise in wide ranging disciplines such as politics, democracy, free speech and monarchy, cancer research, heritage, tourism, entertainment, volunteering and skills-training. He progressed to a senior level in both media and public relations. This followed five years as a broadcast journalist for BBC and Independent Local Radio including Radio Mercury FM & BBC Surrey / Southern Counties. He has led successful and productive teams for major NGOs including the National Trust and the national volunteering & training charity CSV, (now Volunteering Matters). He is currently active in the London tourism industry including tour guiding visitors, having welcomed 10,000 to date, mostly from the USA ,allowing exchanges of ideas about modern democracy and free speech. When there's time, he still uses his journalism training to write and research comment pieces, articles, presentations and training courses.
Stance: Jason Tanner has no fixed alliance to any political party and as an independent freelance journalist, is able to work for different broadcasters and publishers. Jason firmly believes that legacy and social media need coexistence if the privilege of free speech is to be enriched by wide ranging sources and opinions. He's a passionate supporter of trained and untrained citizen journalism but follows the UK broadcast principles he learnt of ensuring the opposite view point can speak also.
e: jason@jasontanner.uk
t: +44 7941 433598
w: Jason Tanner
New discovery reveals media manipulation by X's owner November 6, 2025 (First published via Pulse on Linkedin)
New discovery reveals media manipulation by X's owner November 6, 2025 (First published via Pulse on Linkedin)
Is there a name for the way newscasters speak? ... 'Seriously?' Jason Tanner asks if there's more pressing worries in the world right now January 6, 2026
Is there a name for the way newscasters speak? ... 'Seriously?' Jason Tanner asks if there's more pressing worries in the world right now January 6, 2026
The Queen broadcasting her first Christmas message in 1952 (With thanks: © 2026 BBC)
President of the USA, Donald Trump
How we reinvented the House of Lords, demonstrating that modern democracy never reaches perfection. Jason Tanner responds to Maiden Speech of Lord Timpson March2025
How we reinvented the House of Lords, demonstrating that modern democracy never reaches perfection. Jason Tanner responds to Maiden Speech of Lord Timpson March2025
Modern democracy is always evolving to match the changing expectations of the people who elect governments. News Commentator, Jason Tanner, responds to the appointment of Lord Timpson to the House of Lords and his Maiden Speech to the House
It's very rare that British people praise themselves as a nation or pause to recognise what we have actually achieved. That's probably a good thing. We constantly try and improve and never really see the end game. That's because frequently we were the pioneers brave enough to make the first mistakes in key globally impacting moments such as the modern democratic system, the creation of law as a protector of common people and the modern industrial age. We started all three but they were never perfect from the start and never will be as people evolve and learn about humanity. This takes time.
I feel comfortable we are now developing a second chamber comprised of experts within their field. The House of Commons is the elected chamber and as with all of us, could do with the rigours of expert scrutiny over the legislation they produce as the people we've elected to do so.
We have plenty on our own plates without having to be responsible for running the country as well so we must learn to trust the people we elect but also participate in the election process as much as possible when we have the opportunity.
The system is not rigged and the conspiracy theorists come and go. We do and we CAN change governments when we need to. I've yet to hear credible alternatives What has evolved today is the cumulation of huge efforts of brave people who've marched the length of the UK to get workers rights, been killed by horses to improve suffrage or gone to the gallows with tremendous dignity in the hope that real justice will emerge.
We continue to pioneer and I predict this evolution in the House of Lords will spread in time, as many of our ideas have done in the past. We can be quietly and briefly proud but never complacent. The work continues and will always do so. https://lnkd.in/eibgMpbU
Notes for Editors
Jason Tanner is the founder of the defend uk campaign and a news commentator when time allows. He was the last Chief Press Officer for the National Trust before a major reorganisation saw it move it's London HQ to Swindon . Amongst many projects, Jason revealed to the world's media the Trust's acquisition of a rare survival of 'slum housing' in Birmingham and was part of the team, that worked with Sir Anthony Hopkins in a race to save Snowdon for the nation some 20 plus years ago. When the Trust relocated, Jason headed up media relations for Dame Elisabeth Hoodless at CSV (now Volunteering Matters) and worked closely with key national journalists on a project that placed pioneering volunteers within the families of children at risk. He also headed a talented team that put volunteers squarely on the map as CSV took the lead on the Year of the Volunteer, 2005 leading to the climactic efforts of the Olympic Volunteers of 2012. He also dealt with the enormous international media attention generated when the government of the time launched its ill-fated Big Society. He started the first 5 years of his career working as a radio journalist for both BBC Southern Counties and as the Senior Broadcast Journalist at Mercury FM & Mercury Extra.
e: jason@jasontanner.uk
t: +44 7941 433598
w: Jason Tanner
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasontanner-uk
Social Media: Threads @jason_sixpence | BlueSky @jasonmtanner.bsky.social | Twitter @jasontanner100 | YouTube @JasonTannerNews
The Most Dangerous Woman in the World gives insight into royal use of the media to protect democracy.
The Most Dangerous Woman in the World gives insight into royal use of the media to protect democracy.
Why Hitler hated the Queen Mother September 24, 2025
Why Hitler hated the Queen Mother September 24, 2025
Nothing is locked forever in a glass case, even when welcoming visitors to the fine city of London, writes Jason Tanner, News Commentator and Tour Director of Tanners Tours London. The grandparent of modern democracy, the UK, remains very much at the centre of a fast-changing world in the aftermath of a second state visit by Donald Trump earlier this month.
Like it or not, the Royal Family and the historic palaces of the monarchy and government remain a compulsive fascination for people visiting from the USA and across the world and it remains a privilege as a journalist and latterly a tour guide to witness in real-time the thoughts and emotions of global travellers who come to spend their vacation in a city that is rarely at rest itself.
Although the mother of the late Queen Elizabeth II was born 125 years ago, it's a lesser known fact that this reluctant Queen did a remarkably good job at annoying Hitler by using the media of the day against him. This is long before the current debates about established (legacy media) versus the newer social media of Facebook and Twitter
I've extracted a couple of paragraphs from an article I wrote in April 25 about the leadership skills of the Queen Mother's daughter. It's clear she had more than a working knowledge of what is today disparagingly referred to as the legacy media which I prefer to term as the establishee media.
"1940 looked pretty dismal as the Nazi blitz on the UK’s major cities saw more than 100,000 buildings damaged or destroyed in London alone. It’s at this moment we get a striking clue about what sort of leader she was. She achieved a very rare accolade in being described as the most dangerous woman in the world by the most dangerous man in the world, namely Hitler.
"How on earth could any person, let alone a woman, upset such a tyrant? She seemed drawn to attack Hitler’s weak spot and she did it many times to his annoyance. Her skill was to use the media of the age. It wasn’t ‘TwitteX’, Facebook or Instagram but radio, Cinema and the papers. It’s best illustrated by one of the nine hits that Buckingham Palace took during the war. On one particular occasion, the king and the queen were perilously close to where a bomb had dropped. I like to imagine that they scrambled from whatever shelter they had found, and then brushed the ceiling from their shoulders. But it’s what she’s reputed to have demanded next that upset Hitler so much. I paraphrase: “Get those cinema cameras and the radio here now” because in her instinctive mind she could already see what the national headlines would be in the coming days. The subtext was this - ‘We are your King and Queen. We’ve been bombed in our home. It was painful. We are aware that you, our nation, is also being bombed and also feeling the pain. We are all in this together, and furthermore we will win together.’
"The actual reality was harder. Try as we might, we couldn't at that stage persuade America to help with defence. The Nazis swept through Europe at a terrifying speed, even at night; Hitler’s soldiers were fuelled by Crystal Meth. They got to France only 6 weeks into their invasion of Western Europe and our neighbours surrendered in June 1940. With no help available, we were preparing for defeat. The natural assumption was that after weakening us with the mass bombing from the skies, they’d simply parachute in to take our island. But we get another insight into the Queen Mother’s sense of leadership. It’s reported she requested she be given two guns so that she could be the first to shoot the Nazis as they descended from the sky. She apparently practised on the many rats running around the bombed out Palace at the time."
Extracted from an article by Jason Tanner: The Ultimate CEO? - Queen Elizabeth's skills could help you become top of your gam
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Jason Tanner, news commentator & founder of the Defend Campaign for free speech and democracy: With his career launching as a Broadcast Journalist, Jason Tanner developed expertise in wide ranging disciplines such as politics, cancer research, monarchy, heritage, tourism, entertainment, volunteering and skills-training. He progressed to a senior level in both media and public relations. This followed five years as a broadcast journalist for BBC and Independent Local Radio including Radio Mercury FM & BBC Surrey / Southern Counties. He has led talented and productive teams in the charity sector including the National Trust and the national volunteering & training charity CSV, (now Volunteering Matters). He is currently active in the London tourism industry including tour guiding visitors. When there's time, he still uses his journalism training to write and research comment pieces, articles, presentations and training courses. e: jason@jasontanner.uk t: 07941 433598 w: Jason Tanner or on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasontanner-uk
Tanners Tours: Jason Tanner has welcomed close to 10,000 visitors aged 8 to 88 as one of London's most popular tour guides. Visitors, students, schools, colleges, corporates, cruise ships, individuals and groups can arrange a bespoke and exclusive experience direct with Jason. Please feel free to explore options by contacting Jason direct +44 (0) 7941 433598 (WhatsApp / RCS Text) or jason@tannerstours.com (email) - tannerstours.com (web)
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operates as part of the defend uk campaign and exists in support of both professional and citizen journalism. It welcomes ideas for articles it could feature in support of free speech as well as new material written by both trained and citizen journalists.
Why Jason Tanner wants to protect free speech and democracy
Why Jason Tanner wants to protect free speech and democracy
Jason Tanner was driven to become a proactive defender of democracy & free speech in early 2025 when he awoke in the UK to hear Elon Musk, the world's wealthiest man and owner of X , was commenting as if a national authority on child protection issues in the UK. 'That's very odd I thought... '
This came on the very day British politicians and professionals considered the status of a very serious British child grooming enquiry. The noise being stirred appeared on my algorithmic X feed, primarily levelled against the government and Sir Keir Starmer. None of my fellow journalists giving Elon the platform to speak were answering my own fundamental inner- question - Why was Elon Musk commenting so prominently on a hugely emotive UK issue when I wasn't aware he was an expert on British grooming gangs, nor was I aware of him setting foot much in the UK of late?
His involvement seemed very disproportionate and out of place and I thought I better start off undertaking research and flicking through many , many, many posts on X .
In my eyes, Elon as owner, technically publishes X, though most social media has been conveniently shy of accepting that it is the equivalent of a publisher or broadcaster, because to be either attracts certain responsibilities and rules developed for the established media, and originally drafted to protect us.
Such rules, whether voluntary or legal , are the ongoing result of hard work and hard campaigning by countless people over centuries who have sacrificed much so that eventually, our elected politicians could eventually hear us and enact what people want through the ballot box and through law. it's certainly not a quick process or a perfect one but it does usually take into account a great deal .
So that's a bit more about where I'm coming from though there is plenty more to say.
Many will agree or disagree with what I say, which is fine. But when you disagree, please do not resort to the frankly poisonous and ugly shouting matches now well documented to exist on X.
As a trained radio journalist, I would not normally take-sides. However, based on evidence and what I understand free speech to be, I have to declare a bias against X (Twitter) due to what it allows , how it operates, and its distortion of the privilege of free speech under Musk's clear direction. That doesn't mean it cannot reform or change.
Free speech is ultimately a privilege and like it or not, currently relates, in part, to the amount of money you've got to buy the algorithms of 'free speech' and control it. Musk portrays social media as true free speech but it is not. The free speech of his version of social media is an illusion; a conjuring trick. You only have to do some basic maths to realise that people can only hear so many messages at anyone time . And you need to workout who controls the messages that get through.
People may feel they have a voice but in reality they do not. To coin an old phrase, Twitter / X is being used to drug people - as 'an opiate of the masses' or 'opium of the people' as Karl Marx once described religion. In this case the headache is supposed to be relieved by us typing out a few sentences that you think are important and get read by many, but that's very unlikely if you do the maths.
It's hardly a new concept, but it has evolved and grown. The ownership of media by extremely wealthy people (the richest 1%) makes it much easier, effiecient and profitable for some of them to control and organise the very workers and consumers who made them rich in the first place?
My thoughts are in the box above.
The Right of Reply
The Right of Reply
No-one is perfect so please do contact Jason / The Defend Campaign for Free speech if you feel something needs to be said or corrected . We strongly feel that there should be a right of reply if someone or an organisation that is mentioned feels it needs to respond. Please try and alert Jason by text, phone, RCS or WhatsApp if urgent and submit up to 500 words initially by email for consideration. Articles are currently most commonly published on Linkedin, on News & Comment from Jason Tanner, as part of the Defend UK voluntary and charitable Campaign or via social media platforms such as X, Threads, BlueSky and YouTube. They may be picked-up by mainstream established media as appropriate or in response to live discussion which we'd encourage you to get involved with.
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Constructive comment that might agree, disagree, provide new perspectives or make the news itself is warmly invited. Jason is keen to explore the ways in which people interact with news and he hopes this will be an ongoing topic for the new defend uk campaign to protect and promote free speech for democracy. For the moment, please email your thoughts (500 words or fewer) direct to jason@jasontanner.uk They'll all be read and added to the stories on this website as appropriate. Please excuse any delays in the early days! Alternatively, most stories will also be published and available for comment via Jason's social media which is due for a makeover in due course too. Thank you!
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