Two-tier justice row after Tory councillor’s wife loses appeal to cut her 31-month sentence for ‘racist’ Southport tweet

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The Free Speech Union (FSU), which had funded Connolly’s appeal bid, were among those criticising the decision. 

Toby Young, its general secretary, said: “This is terribly disappointing. How can it be right for Lucy to have been condemned to spend more than two-and-a-half years in jail for a single tweet when members of grooming gangs who plead guilty to the sexual exploitation of children get lower sentences? Lucy should be at home with her 12 year-old daughter and husband, not rotting in jail.”

MailOnline, 21st May 2025.

Braverman: Arrest of ex-special constable over tweet is national embarrassment

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With support from the Free Speech Union, he is now crowdfunding to take legal action against the force.

Janet Eastham, The Telegraph, 17th May 2025.

Tory councillor’s wife ‘had no idea what she was admitting’ when she pleaded guilty to online rant about migrants in wake of Southport attack

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Next, the Free Speech Union report:

Those present included Toby Young, founder of the Free Speech Union, journalist Allison Pearson, who was briefly investigated by police last year over a social media post about the Hamas-Israel conflict, and Dan Wootton, and former GB News presenter Dan Wootton.

Ryan Hooper, Daily Mail, 15th May 2025.

The thick blue line

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Next, the Free Speech Union report:

Someone complained about Julian’s tweet to the Met and Metropolitan Police Intelligence Command – a specialist unit set up to deal with terrorism and extremism – referred it to Kent Police, citing “concerns around online content”. The following day, six police officers turned up at his home, ransacked the premises, arrested him, detained him for eight hours and gave him a caution.

Ben Sixsmith, The Critic, 14th May 2025.

Former British Copper Arrested by His Own Ex-Colleagues over a Tweet

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But Foulkes, who has suffered emotional damage because of the incident, is now suing the force with the help of the Free Speech Union.

Michael Curzon, The European Conservative, 12th May 2025.

Police face lawsuit after former officer arrested over ‘thought crime’ tweet

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On Sunday, Mr Foulkes accepted an offer from the Free Speech Union (FSU) to fund a legal challenge against the force for wrongful arrest and detention.

“The FSU and Lord Young have generously agreed to fully fund a lawsuit against Kent Police,” he said. “I’m extremely grateful for such excellent support and would urge anyone concerned about the sustained attack on free speech to please join the FSU. They’re fighting hard every day for all of us.”

Janet Eastham, The Telegraph, 11th May 2025.

Police apologise for arresting former colleague over ‘anti-Jewish’ tweet

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On Sunday, Foulkes accepted an offer from the Free Speech Union (FSU) to fund a legal challenge against the force for wrongful arrest and detention.

“The FSU and Lord [Toby] Young have generously agreed to fully fund a lawsuit against Kent Police,” he said. “I’m extremely grateful for such excellent support and would urge anyone concerned about the sustained attack on free speech to please join the FSU. They’re fighting hard every day for all of us.”

Peter Stubley, The Times, 11th May 2025.

Gay railway volunteer banned after expressing gender-critical views: ‘Public services should remain neutral and welcoming to everyone!’

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The Free Speech Union (FSU), representing Toomer, has written to the rail operator about the incident.

The FSU warned WMR that punishing Toomer “unjustifiably restricts his freedom of expression, and that it is contrary to WMR’s stated values of diversity, equality and inclusion”.

Lewis Henderson, GB News, 2nd May 2025.

The press has a big problem: Its regulator wants to be nice

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Lord Young, the founder of the Free Speech Union, says: “Ipso has certainly made some eccentric decisions recently. It’s as though Ipso now regards freedom of expression as being less important than protecting minority groups from being offended, and that is a significant shift that has taken place over the past 10 years.”

Gordon Raynor, The Telegraph, 2nd May 2025.

Newspaper cartoonist’s exhibition in Kingston cancelled for being ‘too political’

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In its news report on the cancellation, Free Speech Union noted the decision to pull the show has revived longstanding concerns among artists and free speech campaigners about the increasing reluctance of public-facing institutions to tolerate satire that risks discomforting viewers, regardless of political alignment.

Tilly O’Brien, Kingston Nub News, 2nd May 2025.