FSU Member Testimonial: Connie Shaw disciplined by Leeds University for gender-critical views

Max Thompson, Campaigns Officer

18 April 2026

In 2024, Connie Shaw was disciplined by both Leeds University Union and the University of Leeds itself for expressing her gender-critical views. The attempts to silence her have seriously backfired.

After being permanently removed from her committee position at Leeds Student Radio for daring to interview Graham Linehan and write for his Substack, the University of Leeds launched disciplinary action against her, accusing her of harassing a member of staff. This was because Connie had suggested that having a man who identifies as a woman teaching feminist philosophy might lead gender-critical students to self-censor.

She was accused of ‘misgendering’, ‘outing’, and using a ‘slur’ (‘trans identified male’). Most outrageously, one of the charges was that she had given ‘the impression that she supports Graham Linehan’s views’ because she ‘did not dissociate herself’ from his remarks in the interview and said it was ‘an honour’ to interview him.

The stakes were raised so high that, if Connie had been found guilty, she could have been expelled from the University of Leeds entirely. General Secretary and founder of the Free Speech Union, Lord Young of Acton, wrote to the Vice-Chancellor urging her to call off the disciplinary proceedings.

When that failed, the Free Speech Union instructed an external barrister, who helped draft a 16-page legal defence. It worked, and Connie was able to complete her degree. However, she was told she could not speak publicly about the ordeal, or she could face further disciplinary action.

Connie completed her degree and graduated in July 2025. She is now the External Affairs Officer at the Free Speech Union and a contributor to GB News. She has described buying her Free Speech Union membership as ‘the best thing’ she did at university.

At the Free Speech Union, incidents involving individuals being silenced or cancelled for their gender-critical views remain our single biggest category of cases. The attempts to cancel Connie have seriously backfired, and the Free Speech Union is proud to have supported her throughout.