News and Victories
Ofcom dishes out £50,000 donation to The Guardian's charity
Ofcom is under fire after filings revealed it donated £50,000 to The Guardian Foundation — raising questions about the regulator’s impartiality at a time when it is enforcing the Online Safety Act against other media outlets.
Data shows Crown Court backlog is falling — but the Government won't admit it
Analysis by the Criminal Bar Association shows the Crown Court backlog is falling — yet the Government remains silent. Acknowledging this would undermine its case for curtailing the right to trial by jury.
Home Secretary calls time on NCHIs, but the battle for common sense policing continues
The Home Secretary has announced the abolition of non-crime hate incidents in England and Wales — a long-campaigned-for FSU victory — but the fight for common sense policing isn’t over yet.
We are hiring! Software Engineer — Free Speech Union
The FSU is looking for a software engineer to work on AI automation, systems integration, and security. £35,000–£40,000, full remote.
Labour Party suspends chief jury trial rebel Karl Turner MP
The Labour leadership has removed the whip from Karl Turner MP, who led backbench opposition to the Government's plans to restrict the right to trial by jury. The FSU believes this looks very much like tone policing.
Most senior judge in England & Wales raises concerns over Lammy's jury trial reforms
The Lady Chief Justice, Baroness Carr, has raised serious concerns about David Lammy's plan to curtail the right to trial by jury, warning that judge-only trials could expose judges to an increased risk of physical abuse.
All-Party Parliamentary Group on Freedom of Speech Roundtable on Jury Trial Reforms
The APPG on Freedom of Speech hosted a roundtable on the Government's plan to curb jury trials, with speeches from Karl Turner MP, Nick Timothy MP, Kirsty Brimelow KC, Adam King, and Dr Bryn Harris.
Free Speech Union backs Royal Holloway student after Freshers' Fair dispute
The Free Speech Union is backing Royal Holloway student Brodie Mitchell in taking legal action against his university after he was suspended for a comment at the Freshers' Fair.
Government Reneges on Promise to Jury Trial Rebels
The Government has broken its promise to Labour rebels opposing jury trial reforms, raising fresh doubts about whether opponents can trust ministers to negotiate in good faith.
Islamophobia definition will cause confusion and lead to self-censorship, says counter-terrorism tsar
The Government's independent reviewer of counter-terrorism law has warned that the new anti-Muslim hostility definition will lead to confusion and self-censorship — with no clear guidance on what it means.
The Free Speech Union launches legal challenge against Government over Islamophobia definition
The Free Speech Union has launched a legal challenge against the Government's "anti-Muslim hostility" definition, warning it threatens free speech and risks creating a back-door Muslim blasphemy law.
Leading lawyer quits legal service watchdog over Lammy's 'tyrannical' jury reforms
Leading lawyer Flora Page KC has quit her role on the Legal Services Board in protest at David Lammy's "tyrannical" jury reforms, warning the plans would "rip the heart out" of the rule of law.
