You get what you vote for, in most countries, and the United Kingdom is seeing that come to life right before their very eyes. After electing an otherwise socialist government a few months back, Britain is really seeing the fruit of their voting labor (labour?) rot.

British authorities have arrested numerous citizens for protesting mass immigration, and have also arrested people for voicing support for those protests on social media. The Chief of the Metropolitan Police has even threatened to arrest American citizens over their social media comments. Additionally, the mass release of prisoners from British jails and prisons has exacerbated the situation:

The same government that claimed it would empty prisons for humanitarian and financial reasons is now threatening to fill them with protesters and social media supporters of those protests. This suggests the goal is to make free speech and “thought crimes” more punishable than many other offenses. We’ve seen similar trends, like California’s anti-meme law, Hillary Clinton’s calls to limit online free speech, and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s recent statements. It seems those in power do not appreciate being criticized.

The new British government’s crackdown on free speech is an ominous sign for the country’s uncertain future. Historically, restricting citizens’ ability to voice even unpopular political views, without fear of arrest, has never led to positive outcomes for a nation. Furthermore, the accidental release of 37 prisoners during recent mass releases raises additional concerns about the competence of the new administration.