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In the Media

Articles That Mention the Free Speech Union

Punishing the innocent

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Later, with respect to the “Online Safety Bill”, which has brought typically docile Conservative MPs to a fever pitch in their efforts to stop people being mean to them on Twitter, the discussion mixed genuine evils like child pornography and terrorist materials with mere “offensive” speech among phenomena that must be cleared off the Internet, leading Toby Young of the Free Speech Union to comment:
… the Bill does little to tackle genuine harms such as the distribution of child pornography or instructions on how to make bombs … and instead risks censoring swathes of online content that’s perfectly legal.

Ben Sixsmith, The Critic, 18th January 2023.

Seminar on free speech tomorrow

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Toby Young, deputy editor of the Spectator and chairman of the UK Free Speech Union, has been highly critical of his government’s actions during the coronavirus era, and has waged many attacks against attempts to silence debate on the subject. Toby Young addresses freedom of expression and personal liberty in a time of ongoing emergency and fear in a message he calls “How Pascal’s wager has made us slaves of all people.”

Iceland Monitor, 6th January 2023.

Mark Hillery, Durham University’s top donor, pulls funding

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Toby Young, British columnist and founder of the Free Speech Union, said: “Durham is the front line in the battle to restore free speech at British universities.
“Scarcely a week goes by without a student or academic reaching out to the Free Speech Union for help. We’re thinking of opening an office in the city.”

Phoebe Abruzzese, The Northern Echo, 4th January 2023.

Wealthy donor who gifted £7 million to Durham University has cut off his cash over “rise in campus wokery” and is now funnelling his money into “fighting for free speech” in academia

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The retired hedge fund manager donated more than £7 million to his alma mater, Collingwood College, between 2015 and 2021. But this year, instead of funnelling his cash to the university, he gifted £400,000 to the Free Speech Union.

Connor Stringer, Daily Mail, 28th December 2022.

Glasgow troll’s supporters raise £20,000 to fight conviction over sick tweet about Captain Sir Tom Moore

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Pressure group the Free Speech Union are now helping him try to appeal to the court in Strasbourg, and a crowdfunding appeal they organised has raised £19,472 from more than 380 donations, far exceeding its £5,000 initial target. The appeal was due to close last week but has been extended until the end of January.
The group admit some of their own members cannot stomach the thought of backing Kelly, but they still insist they are right to support him.
They said: “We know this is a tough case and not all our members will support us. But if you do, please consider donating to the crowdfunder for Joe Kelly.
“The case Joe’s counsel will make focuses on ensuring this ‘deterrence’ on free expression does not materialise.” They added: “This case goes beyond obtaining justice for Joe, it is about challenging the arbitrary use of power to interfere with lawful free speech and halting the development of blasphemy law by another name.”

Stuart MacDonald and John Glover, Scottish Daily Express, 28th December 2022.

Ex-Durham donor cuts off university cash to fund fight for free speech

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Mark Hillery, a retired hedge fund manager who donated more than £7 million to his alma mater between 2015 and 2021, told The Telegraph that he will not donate to any university again until “they get their free speech house properly in order”.
This year, he has instead gifted £400,000 to the Free Speech Union, a campaign group whose work includes protecting cancelled academics.

Louisa Clarence-Smith, The Telegraph, 27th December 2022.

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