2 March 2026
Last month, the Free Speech Union hosted an event at the House of Commons to mark the third anniversary of the Ian Mactaggart Programme. Administered by the Free Speech Union, the Ian Mactaggart Programme provides grants and support to young people, especially university students, who are working to promote freedom of speech and expression on campus.
The event brought together representatives from societies and projects supported by the programme from a range of universities including Durham, York, Exeter, Warwick, King’s College London, Cambridge, Edinburgh, Nottingham, Glasgow and Bath.
General Secretary and founder of the Free Speech Union, Lord Young of Acton, addressed attendees, reflecting on the importance of open debate and intellectual curiosity on campus, and how those are now better protected thanks to the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act 2023, which the FSU helped to draft and then campaigned for.
The afternoon provided an opportunity for participants to showcase their work, connect with one another, and celebrate the programme’s impact, followed by afternoon tea and networking. We are very grateful to the Ian Mactaggart Trust for their continued support.
