Today we remember John Lennon on what would have been his 80th birthday. But I started thinking, how would he have been perceived if he was alive now?

Lennon was a genius writer and poet and during his life he helped to inspire a whole generation with his words and music. Yet, in modern times and in particular the period after the Brexit referendum when we have become more and more polarised, it is clear his words would have fallen on deaf ears.

Some might say things have not changed that much and even in the Sixties and Seventies Lennon’s views were trampled on by the powers-that-be.

But now some of those opinions have become increasingly amplified with politicians comfortable to call out ‘do-gooders’ and ‘lefties’. This ‘either you are with us or against us’ attitude is something that would have forced people like Lennon on to the front foot. It is unlikely he would have stayed quiet and let things pass.

You could say that to many sections of the right-wing press he would have been seen as a ‘leftie liberal’ type for simply speaking out against injustices. An anti-war, environmentalist, pro-immigration activist who may well have spent days fronting demonstrations and protests against the government and faceless multi-national organisations.

Some may have celebrated tearing into his personality in the hope it would make others think twice before holding similar views.

He probably would have got the same treatment as so-called ‘traitors’ for choosing to voice their opinions.

And what kind of abuse would he have got on social media?

It is clear that as someone who was not keen to toe the line and speak out against discrimination and prejudice he may well have found himself at the wrong end of abuse.

The point is we are very quick to make heroes of some of the most iconic personalities yet the very same people may well have been made into hate figures in modern times for speaking out. It is a common misconception that personalities like Lennon would have escaped such scrutiny for their beliefs and viewpoints.

Many an outspoken musical and cultural legend would have faced a similar fate.

Despite all of this, I sense that Lennon was unlikely to have been silenced by any of this and most certainly have revelled in speaking his mind.