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Meet Our Scotland Office

In response to the overwhelming demand from our members, we’ve created a dedicated Scottish Office of the Free Speech Union. Free speech is under assault across the United Kingdom, but there appears to be less tolerance for dissenting, non-conformist views in Scotland than the rest of the U.K. And it will get worse when the Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act is activated (it received Royal Assent in 2021). So, if you’re a Scottish resident worried about being punished for exercising your right to free speech, you should join the FSU.

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Our Commitment to Scotland

“Scotland is known across the world as one of the bastions of the Enlightenment, boasting such intellectual giants as Adam Smith and David Hume. If we want to preserve that legacy, we need to make sure free speech is robustly protected, which is why we’ve opened a Scottish Office. As the Director of Case Management and head of the Scottish Office, I see every day the unfairness that people are subject to across the UK at the hands of outrage mobs, often hiding behind a cloak of anonymity. There are specific challenges in Scotland where I live and it’s vitally important Scots know that we are there to provide help when they need it.”

Fraser Hudghton

Director of Case Management & FSU Scotland

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Meet Our Scottish Advisory Council

“Free speech in Scotland is under threat from laws open to being weaponised to censor legal speech emanating from both Holyrood and Westminster. The establishment of FSU Scotland is therefore timely and needed and I am delighted to join the Advisory Council.”

Joanna Cherry KC

Member of Parliament for Edinburgh South West

“In nearly twenty years of programming and writing in Scottish literary culture, I have never known an atmosphere so stifled, nor the precept of freedom of expression so disregarded by individual writers and arts organisations alike. This does not need to be the case, and I dearly hope for robust discussion about re-energising Scotland’s literary landscape so that writers and thinkers are free to explore complex contemporary issues without fears of no-platforming, ostracisation, smearing and loss of livelihood.”

Jenny Lindsey

Writer and Poet

Joanna Cherry KC MP

Scottish Advisory Council

Read Joanna’s Biography

An SNP MP since 2015, Joanna Cherry KC has served as Justice spokesperson for the SNP Group at Westminster and is a practising Scottish Advocate. 

 

Murdo Fraser MSP

Scottish Advisory Council

Read Murdo’s Biography

Murdo Fraser has been MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife since 2001. He is currently the Scottish Conservatives spokesman on Covid Recovery, having previously held a variety of roles in the Party, including Deputy Leader.

Jim Sillars

Advisory Council

Read Jim’s Biography

James Sillars is a Scottish politician and a leading figure in the campaign for Scottish independence. Sillars served as a Labour Party MP for South Ayrshire from 1970 to 1976. He founded and led the Scottish Labour Party in 1976, continuing as MP for South Ayrshire until he lost the seat in 1979. Sillars joined the Scottish National Party in 1980 and later served as MP for Glasgow Govan after winning a by-election in 1988, and was Deputy Leader of the Scottish National Party.

Puneet Dwivedi

Scottish Advisory Council

Read Puneet’s Biography

Puneet Dwivedi is a former Vice President for Scotland in the Hindu Forum Britain.

Jamie Gillies

Scottish Advisory Council

Read Jamie’s Biography

Jamie Gillies was a leader of the Free To Disagree Campaign which led the opposition to the Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Bill.

Dr Neil Thin

Scottish Advisory Council

Read Neil’s Biography

Neil Thin was a Senior Lecturer in Social Anthropology at Edinburgh University.

Brent Haywood

Scottish Advisory Council

Read Brent’s Biography

Brent Haywood is a partner and solicitor advocate at Lindsays LLP.  He has been in private practice for 30 years covering commercial disputes and public law. He was involved in the Judicial Review that saw some Coronavirus regulations in Scotland declared unlawful.

Penny Lewis

Scottish Advisory Council

Read Penny’s Biography

Penny Lewis is a Lecturer in Architecture and Urban Planning at the University of Dundee.

Jenny Lindsay

Scottish Advisory Council

Read Jenny’s Biography

Jenny Lindsay is a writer, poet and performer, who is also an award-winning programmer of literary events. She won a John Byrne Award for Critical Thinking in 2020.

Iain Macwhirter

Scottish Advisory Council

Read Iain’s Biography

Iain Macwhirter is an award-winning political columnist and the author of several books including Disunited Kingdom: How Westminster Won A Referendum But Lost Scotland. He is a former Rector of Edinburgh University.

Prof Lindsay Paterson

Scottish Advisory Council

Read Lindsay’s Biography

Lindsay Paterson is Professor of Education Policy at Edinburgh University.

Kapil Summan

Scottish Advisory Council

Read Kapil’s Biography

Kapil Summan is the Editor of Scottish Legal News, a daily news service for lawyers.

Adam Tomkins

Scottish Advisory Council

Read Adam’s Biography

Adam Tomkins is a former Conservative MSP and has been the John Millar Chair in Public Law at the University of Glasgow since 2003.

Tom Walker

Scottish Advisory Council

Read Tom’s Biography

Tom Walker is a businessman and former Doctor who campaigned for Brexit in the 2016 referendum.

Peter Kearney

Scottish Advisory Council

Read Peter’s Biography

Peter Kearney is the Director of Communications for the Catholic Church in Scotland.

Tom Burns

Scottish Advisory Council

Read Tom’s Biography

Tom Burns is a full-time train driver and former ASLEF official.

An invaluable support network

With You Every Step of The Way

At the Free Speech Union, we understand the challenges you might face and are committed to being by your side throughout. If you want to speak up about an issue that matters to you, you should be free to do so without fear of being penalised. We have helped over 2,000 people who found themselves in trouble merely for expressing a controversial opinion or for exercising their lawful right to free speech, whether at college or university, in the workplace or on social media.

If you’re looking for information and guidance, or are in need immediate help, know that our team of experts are here to provide assistance, resources, and unwavering support. You’re not alone; we’re in this together.

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