Those “sophisticated” Brits and Europeans have no First Amendment, and it shows. Political parties have to be licensed in Belgium. Private citizens can face criminal charges for comments they make — Brigit Bardot, for example, was convicted and fined for “insulting” Muslims in a book she wrote.

Here we have PC police, but their influence is mostly limited to college campuses (ironic, because that’s where the ’60s “Free Speech” movement began) but in England, it’s different. Now, the actor who plays Mr. Bean is speaking out:

Atkinson, who mounted a successful campaign in 2004 to water down legislation aimed at criminalising expressions of religious hatred, has returned to the fray to defend the art of gay leg-pulling.

His concern is that Labour ministers are so obsessed with creating laws to stop people being rude about each other that they are putting in danger the right to free speech and, equally dear to his heart, the comedian’s craft.

In a letter to a newspaper he accused ministers of filling their legislative programme with measures that have “serious implications for freedom of speech, humour and creative expression”.

Atkinson was referring to measures in the Criminal Justice Bill, currently passing through Parliament, which could mean people who stir up hatred against homosexuals being put in prison for up to seven years.

He said the Government measures, which could be expanded to cover hatred against disabled or transgendered people, seemed to be “infinitely extendable”.

“Witness the fact that the Government has invited two additional groups - the disabled and transsexuals - to ‘make the case’ for the proposed legislation to be extended to them.

“I am sure that they could make a very good case, as indeed could all those who can claim that they cannot help being the way they are. Men, for example, or women. Or people with big ears.”

Atkinson added: “The devil, as always, will be in the detail but the casual ease which some people move from finding something offensive to wishing to declare it criminal - and are then able to find factions within government to aid their ambitions - is truly depressing.”