The Free Speech Union reaches 50,000 members

Max Thompson, Campaigns Officer

20 October 2026

Over the weekend, the Free Speech Union reached a landmark moment when we signed up our 50,000th member at the Battle of Ideas festival in Westminster.

Our fantastic Operations Assistant, Georgina, signed up David, who is not only member number 50,000 but will now also have lunch with our General Secretary and founder, Lord Young of Acton.

This is a huge moment, and we want to take this opportunity to thank all our brilliant supporters, who enable us to fight daily for our most precious right: freedom of speech.

It is also a testament to the problems we face in Britain today as we grapple with the free speech crisis.

At the time of the last general election in July 2024, the Free Speech Union had 14,000 members. Today, that figure has ballooned to 50,000.

It is no longer possible for the Government to claim that there is no free speech crisis in our country. Between 2021 and 2025, at least 62,199 people were arrested for speech offences — both online and offline. The police knocking on your door — or even on that of a fifteen-year-old — for something said online is becoming an increasingly common fixture of everyday life in Britain.

Recent polling by More in Common, commissioned by the human rights organisation Liberty, found that 54 per cent of Britons believe the Government only protects speech it agrees with, and that its free speech failures could cost Labour votes at the next general election.

We used to joke that, while Sir Keir Starmer was an appalling Prime Minister and an enemy of free speech, he was a rather successful recruiting sergeant for the Free Speech Union. Andy Burnham is proving to be even worse when it comes to free speech.

Bigger than Britain's trade unions

As Lord Young of Acton pointed out on X, the Free Speech Union reaching 50,000 means that we are now larger than the following unions:

• NAHT – 49,785
• Equity – 48,606
• Royal College of Midwives – 48,568
• Community – 43,595
• PDA Union – 38,024
• POA – 36,715
• British Association of Occupational Therapists – 36,015
• Musicians' Union – 34,563
• Society of Radiographers – 33,971
• Fire Brigades Union – 33,717
• ASLEF – c.25,000
• ASCL – 24,778
• FDA – 24,422
• NUJ – 23,066
• Accord – 21,451
• Nautilus International – 19,089
• Affinity – 18,574
• TSSA – c.17,000
• British Dental Association – 15,698
• Social Workers Union – 15,335
• Bakers, Food and Allied Workers Union – 14,645
• BALPA – 14,375
• Society of Authors – 12,390
• Nationwide Group Staff Union – 12,361
• British Dietetic Association – 11,656
• App Drivers and Couriers Union – 9,205
• Workers of England Union – 8,862
• Royal College of Podiatry – 8,736
• Financial Services Union – 8,651
• National Association of Racing Staff – 7,809
• United Road Transport Union – 7,557
• IWGB – 7,380
• NAPO – 6,345
• Scottish Secondary Teachers' Association – 5,966
• Professional Footballers' Association – 5,834
• Advance – 5,512
• British Association of Dental Nurses – 4,585
• Association of Educational Psychologists – 4,256
• Aegis – 4,093
• Equality for Workers Union – 3,972
• United Voices of the World – 3,881
• National Crime Officers Association – 3,666
• UCAC – 3,644
• IWW – 3,332
• NSEAD – 3,085
• ISU – 3,080
• Writers' Guild of Great Britain – 3,074
• HCSA – 2,894
• AHDS – 2,774
• Association of Revenue and Customs – 2,676
• Currys Trade Union – 2,601
• Scottish Artists Union – 2,458
• CAIWU – 1,830
• Criminal Justice Workers Union – 1,796
• National Union of Professional Foster Carers – 1,735
• PFA Scotland – 1,618
• Fire and Rescue Services Association – 1,604
• British Orthoptic Society TU – 1,511
• Association for Laboratory Medicine – 1,407
• Leeds Building Society Colleague Association – 1,356
• News Union – 1,299
• RSPB Staff Association – 1,216
• Artists' Union England – 1,200
• Driver and General Union – 1,193
• G4S Care and Justice Services Staff Association – 1,080
• Prison Governors Association – 1,079
• Independent Pilots Association – 1,020
• UK Private Hire Drivers Union – 891
• NHBC Staff Association – 869
• Fire Officers' Association – 780
• Association of Local Council Clerks – 761
• British Association of Journalists – 731
• Retail Book Association – 706
• Skyshare – 635
• Rugby Players' Association – 590
• Professional Cricketers' Association – 534
• Stage Directors UK Union – 471
• Confederation of British Surgery – 450
• Locum Doctors' Association – 447
• Society of Union Employees – 434
• Security Industry Federation – 405
• Independent Federation of Nursing in Scotland – 395
• Union of General and Volunteer Workers – 354
• ALACE – 350
• Association of Flight Attendants – 328
• Cabin Crew Union – 278
• Empower the Workers' Union – 271
• Employees United – 232
• Union Workers' Union – 212
• Sales Staff Association – 209
• UPECC – 206
• National Union of Mineworkers – 196
• Solidarity – 185
• Equal Justice the Union – 145
• Women's Rugby Association – 125
• Palm Paper Staff Association – 117
• Welsh Rugby Players Association – 116
• WALGAS – 113
• Independent Oxfam Union – 105
• Warwick International Staff Association – 82
• NUM (South Wales Area) – 73
• Employees General Union – 27
• Solid Trade Union – 15

We have a huge fight on our hands, but, thanks to your support, we are one step closer to winning it.

If you are not a member yet, please sign up here.