The health secretary told Sky News Breakfast with Wilfred Frost<\/a> that he can’t comment on the specifics of the case, as operational police decisions are “rightly independent of politicians”.<\/p>\n However, Mr Streeting said more generally that the government would rather see “police on the streets rather than policing tweets”.<\/p>\n The cabinet member added: “It’s the easiest thing in the world for people to criticise the police, but they are enforcing laws that parliament has passed and asked them to enforce.<\/p>\n “So if we haven’t got the balance right, as Parliament over successive governments, that is something that we need to look at because the Home Secretary is very clear about what her priorities are”.<\/p>\n He said that those priorities are neighbourhood policing and keeping borders safe.<\/p>\n Writing on Substack, Lineham said that after flying into the UK from Arizona, he was detained by five armed officers at Heathrow Airport and put in a cell before being questioned over posts published on X in April.<\/p>\n He added that officials became concerned for his health after taking his blood pressure, and he was taken to hospital.<\/p>\n The arrest has drawn criticism from opposition politicians.<\/p>\n Shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick said the incident was “ridiculous and a complete waste of police time”.<\/p>\n Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said he would raise the case when he gives evidence to the House Judiciary Committee in Washington on free speech in the UK during a hearing on Wednesday, The Sun reported.<\/p>\n Image: Read more from Sky News: Harry Potter author JK Rowling, who has regularly shared her views on women’s rights in relation to transgender rights on social media, also waded into the row, posting on X: “What the f*** has the UK become? This is totalitarianism. Utterly deplorable.”<\/p>\n Sir Keir Starmer’s official spokesman said it was an operational matter for the police when asked about the arrest yesterday.<\/p>\n He added: “The prime minister and the home secretary have been clear about where their priorities for crime and policing are, and that’s tackling anti-social behaviour, shoplifting, street crime, as well as reducing serious violent crimes like knife crime and violence against women”.<\/p>\n Asked whether the government agreed with the Harry Potter author’s claim that the UK was now a “totalitarian” state, the spokesman said: “No.”<\/p>\n A Met Police spokeswoman confirmed an arrest was made at Heathrow Airport on Monday, but did not identify Linehan.<\/p>\n![\"Nigel](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/skynews-nigel-farage-reform_7002555.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\n Nigel Farage will raise the case in Washington. Pic: PA<\/p>\n
Cardi B cleared of assaulting security guard<\/a>
The drug network exposed by Matthew Perry’s death<\/a><\/p>\n