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In the Media

Articles That Mention the Free Speech Union

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.

Crowdfunder for Captain Sir Tom Moore troll who tweeted “burn auld fella” raises almost £20,000

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In a statement, the Free Speech Union 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.”
“Having had his appeal denied by the Scottish courts and having been labelled an ‘example case’ to deter others from ‘pressing the blue button’ and posting allegedly offensive content, Joe is now seeking to take his case to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg – and the FSU is supporting him.”

Stuart MacDonald, The Scottish Sun, 27th December 2022.

Free speech bill fans urge ministers to force home right to sue

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Bryn Harris, chief legal counsel at the Free Speech Union, likely to be at the forefront of legal challenges to universities, said he hoped the government “would realise that the Lords are unwilling to compromise” and reinstate the tort, noting that ministers had offered an “extensive concession” by proposing that all complaints should be considered by the OfS before heading to the courts.
“As there is demonstrably nothing to gain by the government offering further compromises, we hope the government will stick to its guns and reinstate the statutory tort,” he said. “It was right to introduce it, and the evidence on the ground supported it as a necessary proportionate measure to secure free speech and academic freedom at English universities.”

John Morgan, Times Higher Education, 19th December 2022.

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