A free speech row as erupted after Father Ted creator Graham Linehan was arrested by armed coppers for anti-trans tweets. The Father Ted and IT Crowd writer was arrested as he got off a plane returning from America by five machine-gun clad officers.

The 57-year old, who has been an outspoken critical voice on trans issues, detailed the ordeal on his Substack blog. He claimed the officers explained he had been arrested over three tweets posted in April, including a joke calling for transgender women to be “punched in the balls” if they refuse to leave a woman-only space. The police have confirmed his arrest yesterday at Heathrow, citing “suspicion of inciting violence… in relation to posts on X”.

One tweet he alleges he was arrested over read: “If a trans-identified male is in a female-only space, he is committing a violent, abusive act. Make a scene, call the cops and if all else fails, punch him in the balls.”

In another post, a picture of a trans march was included with the caption: “A photo you can smell.”

A third read: “I hate them. Misogynists and homophobes. F*** em.”

The arrest has sparked huge debate among MPs from a range of parties condemning it.

Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick told the Express: “The police only send an officer to one in 5 reported shoplifting offences, but somehow think it’s appropriate to deploy 5 armed officers to arrest a comedian over three tweets.

“It’s ridiculous and a complete waste of police time. We desperately need a return to common sense policing, where officers go after actual criminals.”

Reform deputy leader Richard Tice blasted: “This over the top, terrorist-style reaction by the police to a series of tweets is extraordinary. Be under no illusion: freedom of speech in Starmer’s Britain is in grave danger.”

Labour MP Jonathan Hinder said that cases like Mr Linehan’s arrest “show we need a serious reset to get the priorities right”.

He reshared an interview of him from June calling on the police to focus on tackling serious violence, sexual offences and domestic abuse, rather than arresting people for “sounding off” on social media.

Independent MP Rupert Lowe added: “I stand with Linehan. Arrested for a social media post. This is MADNESS.”

The arrest comes just one day before Nigel Farage will testify to Congress in Washington about the crisis of free speech in Britain, with the US Trump administration condemning Keir Starmer over declining human rights.

Recounting his experience on his blog, Mr Linehan explained: “The moment I stepped off the plane at Heathrow, five armed police officers were waiting. Not one, not two—five. They escorted me to a private area and told me I was under arrest for three tweets. In a country where paedophiles escape sentencing, where knife crime is out of control, where women are assaulted and harassed every time they gather to speak, the state had mobilised five armed officers to arrest a comedy writer for this tweet (and no, I promise you, I am not making this up.

“When I first saw the cops, I actually laughed. I couldn’t help myself. “Don’t tell me! You’ve been sent by trans activists”. The officers gave no reaction and this was the theme throughout most of the day. Among the rank-and-file, there was a sort of polite bafflement. Entirely professional and even kind, but most had absolutely no idea what any of this was about.”

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: “On Monday, September 1 at 1pm, officers arrested a man at Heathrow airport after he arrived on an inbound American Airlines flight. The man, in his 50s, was arrested on suspicion of inciting violence. This is in relation to posts on X.

“After being taken to police custody, officers became concerned for his health and he was taken to hospital. His condition is neither life-threatening nor life-changing.”