The Free Speech Union (FSU) is supporting Connie Shaw, a 20 year-old undergraduate at Leeds University who has been suspended from hosting a student radio show for expressing gender-critical views (Telegraph).
Ms Shaw oversaw student radio shows including Woman’s Hour and LGBTQ+ Hour as part of her LSR duties. LSR won “best student station” at the Student Radio Awards last month for the second year running.
She was handed a “notice of suspension” by Leeds University Union (‘the student union’) on October 30th after a complaint was raised with Leeds Student Radio (LSR) about her social media activity.
Her alleged ‘speech crimes’ include writing a post for Irish comedy writer and gender-critical campaigner Graham Linehan’s Substack, voicing criticism of Leeds University’s alleged capture by gender ideology, and hosting prominent ‘detransitioner’ Charlie Bentley-Astor on her own personal podcast.
Rather than tipping their hats to a media-savvy student with a critical and open mind, SU officials suspended her from the LSR committee having decreed that her actions brought the radio station into disrepute, violated its “values, ethos and expectations”, and failed to uphold “a duty of care to all society members”.
Ms Shaw has since been told that she will remain barred unless she sends “a written apology to the membership” and agrees to attend an online political re-education course.
The FSU has now warned Leeds University of potential legal action. In a letter, we’ve pointed out that the institution’s treatment of our member amounts to direct discrimination contrary to the Equality Act 2010, which counts gender-critical beliefs as protected beliefs.
We are also appealing the SU’s decision on Ms Shaw’s behalf, and have promised to support the third-year philosophy undergraduate if she chooses to lodge a discrimination claim.
Speaking to the Telegraph, FSU General Secretary Toby Young criticised the head of the FSU, criticised the university’s handling of the case and claimed it amounted to “improper procedure”.
He said Ms Shaw’s social media feed was “merely shown to her as if her GC [gender-critical] views were self-evidently probative of the case that the investigator was building, with the natural inference that the beliefs were capable” of bringing the student radio into disrepute.
Toby also criticised the student union’s decision to suspend Ms Shaw “on the basis of unparticularised and likely hyperbolic complaints”, as well as its “hostile questioning” which he claimed “amounted to an inquisition as to her GC [gender-critical] beliefs”.
Ms Shaw said in a statement: “It is ironic that LSR promoted a freedom of speech event – the Battle of Ideas – as a result of being given media passes to attend, and then have in my opinion, removed me from my position due to the interviews I conducted at that event, and more generally for expressing my legal right to freedom of speech.”
An student union spokesman said: “Inclusivity is one of our core values, helping to ensure that everyone can enjoy their university experience, free from discrimination.
“Due to an ongoing appeal, we are unable to comment further on this case.”
Ms Shaw’s ordeal at the hands of Leeds University demonstrates perfectly why the free speech duties imposed on Students’ Unions in England by the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act are so badly needed.
This is one of the (many) reasons the FSU is bringing a legal challenge against the Labour Government over the Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson’s shocking decision to stop commencement of this vital piece of legislation during the summer.
The fact that the Administrative Court has given permission for our case to be heard in the High Court on 23rd January 2025 means that we have, at the very least, an arguable case.
So if you can, please donate to our legal fighting fund and help us ensure that what happened to Connie Shaw is much less likely to happen in future.
