[Crimson Dynamo]

JD Vance, the US vice president, has warned of the demise of free speech in Britain and Europe in a landmark address to the Munich Security Conference.

“In Britain and across Europe, free speech, I fear, is in retreat,” said Mr Vance, who went on to accuse European leaders of censoring political opinions and ignoring voters over mass immigration.

He said the threat to Europe he was most worried about was not Russia, but the continent losing its core democratic values “from within”.

The US vice president condemned Britain for betraying Brexit and appeared to accuse German leaders of silencing the Alternative for Germany party.

He said: “The organisers of this very conference have banned lawmakers representing populist parties on both the left and the right from participating in these conversations.”