More evidence that free speech in Europe is, well, less than free:

Ken Livingstone was today suspended from office for four weeks by a disciplinary tribunal for likening a Jewish Evening Standard reporter to a Nazi concentration camp guard.

The three-man adjudication panel of the Standards board for England said the mayor of London should step down from his duties on March 1.

Admittedly, I know nothing about the Standards board for England, but isn't the core concept of free speech in a democracy that elected leaders who say terribly insensitive things are either 1) shamed into apologizing by the force of public opinion or 2) tossed out on their unrepentant "bum" by the electorate at the next possible opportunity?

UPDATE: Looks like I'm not alone - even some native Brits don't know about the "Standards board for England."