I don't think that being a free society is a core "civilizational virtue" for the British in the same sense that it is for Americans, or even, say, the French.
They never have been one.
> The UK seems terrible at this whole "free society" thing.
Did you mean "Airstrip One"?
Which of course is from a British novel arguing in favour of free society with the dystopia based on Stalinism and nazi Germany.