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In the Media

Articles That Mention the Free Speech Union

Free Speech Win: Railway Conductor Wins Suit Against Being Fired for Questioning “White Privilege”

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Celebrating the victory for Isherwood, Toby Young, the General Secretary of the Free Speech Union — which paid for Isherwood’s legal costs at the tribunal — said: “Next time an employer is urged to dismiss someone by woke activists for challenging their progressive dogma, I hope they’ll think twice. Mr Isherwood is now due for a five-figure payout.”

Kurt Zindulka, Breitbart, 28th July 2022.

Rail Conductor wins case against West Midlands Trains who sacked him for gross misconduct because he asked if other countries have “black privilege” after diversity training

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News of the ruling was shared online by The Free Speech Union, which has supported Mr Isherwood throughout the tribunal. Details regarding damages have not yet been made public. Dr Bryn Harris, the FSU’s Chief Legal Counsel, said: “This is a tremendous victory for Simon and for free speech. The lesson is clear: if you’re a member of the FSU, make sure your employer knows it. And if you’re an employer – don’t bully our members, or we’ll come for you.” Free Speech Union General Secretary Toby Young said: ‘I’m delighted we were able to help Simon win a landmark victory for free speech.”

Stewart Carr and Jack Wright, MailOnline, 26th July 2022.

Free Speech Union writes to Lancaster council leader over Roy ‘Chubby’ Brown show cancellation

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General secretary Toby Young said: “Surely, if some people find Chubby Brown’s comedy offensive, they have the option of not buying tickets? Why should those who enjoy his humour not be allowed to see him perform just because some people don’t like his jokes? As it says on his website: ‘If easily offended please stay away!’ At the FSU we take no view on Chubby Brown’s comedy routine, just as we do not advocate for specific points of view. However, we do believe strongly that unless laws are being broken, as opposed to some people finding something distasteful, members of the general public are mature enough to make up their own minds on what they wish to watch, read or listen to. To deny them this opportunity would be a breach of their right to free specch, as well as Chubby Brown’s right to freedom of expression.”

Gayle Rouncivell, Lancaster Guardian, 21st July 2022.

I don’t agree with her… but the law should protect cancel culture victims like Maureen

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AS THE head of the Free Speech Union (FSU), I’m often told by members of the woke Left that cancel culture isn’t real. According to them, it’s only a figment of the imagination of Right-wing culture warriors. People like me aren’t really concerned about free speech, they say. We’re just disappointed that male, pale and stale Conservatives aren’t on the telly as often as we used to be. Well, try telling all that to Maureen Martin.

Toby Young, The Mail+, 17th July 2022.

The Free Speech Union says expanding reach of hate crime law in Northern Ireland risks “empowering the easily offended and endangering the peace process”

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The Free Speech Union’s new report into the planned hate crime reforms warns: “Increasing the number of ‘stirring up’ offences, and criminalising expressions of ‘sectarian prejudice’, will harm public debate and risk inflaming existing political tensions in NI by creating a censorious atmosphere that empowers the easily offended and facilitates vexatious complaints. That, in turn, may endanger the peace process.”

Adam Kula, Belfast News Letter, 15th July 2022.

Free speech ‘stifled’ as universities cancel record number of speakers

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Toby Young, of the Free Speech Union, said: “This is a deeply worrying trend, but it’s just the tip of the iceberg. In the past 12 months, the Free Speech Union has helped hundreds of students and academics who’ve got into trouble for pushing back against ideological orthodoxy on campus, whether it’s refusing to do unconscious bias training, criticising their university’s links with Stonewall, objecting to the decolonisation of the curriculum, or daring to point out that George Floyd had a criminal record.”

Louisa Clarence-Smith, The Telegraph, 14th July 2022.

Ex-Stonewall chief aims to rewrite Oxford University free speech rules

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Toby Young, general secretary of the Free Speech Union, asked: “Why is an ex-chair of Stonewall who banned a Christian group from his college last summer at the behest of student activists convening a forum on free speech? That’s like asking Jack the Ripper to chair a forum on women’s safety. Oxford has a perfectly good free speech policy. The problem isn’t the lack of a decent free speech framework, but how to make sure people like David Isaac stick to it.”

Ewan Somerville and Hayley Dixon, The Telegraph, 9th July 2022.

No known links to slavery … but Cambridge college decolonises anyway

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Toby Young, the general secretary of the Free Speech Union, said: “If Clare College genuinely cares about this issue, why doesn’t it campaign against modern forms of slavery, like the internment of over a million Uyghurs and other Turkic Muslims in labour camps by the Chinese authorities?” He said that the college should refuse to accept grants or donations from organisations linked to the Chinese government, adding: “Renaming part of its vast property empire is pointless virtue signalling. It costs them nothing and benefits no one.”

Louisa Clarence-Smith, The Telegraph, 28th June 2022.

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