A STRIKING example of the value put on free speech, the much-vaunted cornerstone of our “mother of democracies”, by those most ready to proclaim it – ie the Government – has just arisen.

Organised by the Institute of Economic Affairs, an essay competition on how Britain could adapt to life outside the European Union has been won by a British diplomat – Iain Mansfield, director of trade and investment at the UK’s embassy in Manila. As a civil servant, Mr Mansfield obtained permission to enter the competition.

Of the 149 entries, his essay was judged the best by a distinguished panel including former Tory chancellor, Lord Lawson.

Strictly observing civil service neutrality, Mr Mansfield’s essay did not argue for or against a British exit from the EU. But he calculated that leaving could boost our economy by £1.3bn. This would be achieved through membership of the European Free Trade Association, which benefits non-EU nations such as Switzerland and Norway, and closer trading links with old allies like Australia and Canada and “emerging powers in Asia and Latin America”.

Holder of a master’s degree from Cambridge, Mr Mansfield blogs on economic issues.

His essay instantly earned a bit more attention – modest news coverage – which was expected to lead to a round of interviews.

Not if the Government could help it, however.

After a single interview, pre-recorded, Mr Mansfield announced he was unavailable for more. Meanwhile, his blog vanished.

The IEA commented: “Given the importance of the arguments in his winning essay, it is disappointing that he appears to be prevented from discussing his ideas further.”

Thus a well-informed, independent voice is silenced, almost certainly because its message is unwelcome to the Government.

Mr Putin will be full of admiration.

TO those readers (one or two, I cherish you, chaps) who inquired which Doris Day record I heard on Humphrey Lyttelton’s Best of Jazz radio programme, it was I May Be Wrong (But I Think You’re Wonderful), a toe-tapper with a Dixieland outfit.

I bought the CD, I’ll Be Around (Memoir), a contrasting highlight of which is a lovely, wistful version of The One I Love Belongs to Somebody Else.

The centrepiece of Radio 2’s 90th birthday tribute to Doris was a 2011 interview, which confirmed her as a delightful person, still as bright and eager as fondly remembered from her films. Yes, and as content with her life in small-town America as she was in her glittering career. The interviewer mentioned a dramatic fight on a bed with Jimmy Cagney playing a vicious gangster (naturally) to whom she was the abused girlfriend – a serious dramatic role.

“There was more but they cut it out because it was too sexy,” Doris revealed. Had that been shown it would have stifled at birth that (admittedly funny) jibe which says: “I knew Doris Day before she was a virgin.”

SHAME that the photo recording the achievement of 11-year-old Josh Heslop, of Ingleby Barwick, Stockton, in climbing Roseberry Topping to raise money for the Great North Air Ambulance in memory of his granddad, is marred by graffiti defacing the summit trig point (see above right). This happens every time the column is repainted.

Almost certainly the culprits, some Teessiders don’t deserve the region’s magnificent mini mountain.