News and Victories
The neglect of free speech is a national embarrassment
FSU Campaigns Officer Max Thompson writes in The Telegraph that Britain’s failure to implement the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act is a national embarrassment, with the country now ranking 64th in the world for academic freedom — below Burkina Faso and Malawi.
Former judge says "we must not be silenced over the vandalism of juries"
Sir Stephen Mitchell, a former High Court judge, has called the Government’s jury trial reforms “a form of legislative vandalism” and urged the judiciary to speak out against what he describes as the most serious assault on English liberty in 800 years.
NHS Trust Tells Staff to Stop Using English Phrases Like "It's Raining Cats and Dogs"
An NHS trust has told staff to stop using everyday phrases like "it's raining cats and dogs" for fear of offending foreign patients — part of a pattern of language policing that the FSU warns may be driving experienced staff out of the NHS.
The Green Party Has Been Infiltrated by Islamists and Is a Danger to Society, says former deputy leader Shahrar Ali
Former deputy leader of the Green Party, Dr Shahrar Ali, tells the FSU Podcast that the party has been captured by Islamists and is a danger to society.
Former Justice Secretary Warns That Scrapping Jury Trials Risks the Safety of Judges and Judicial Independence
Former Justice Secretary Sir Robert Buckland warns that David Lammy’s jury trial reforms will expose judges to physical attacks and undermine judicial independence.
Council Code of Conduct used to try and silence Reform councillor and FSU member Steve Horner
Reform UK councillor Steve Horner faced a series of vexatious code-of-conduct complaints after standing up for residents online. The Free Speech Union helped him beat every one.
RAF cadet suspended after calling Islam the biggest threat to the UK
An RAF cadet has been suspended from officer training at RAF Cranwell after stating that Islam was the ‘greatest threat’ to Britain — further evidence that a de facto Islamic blasphemy law has become embedded within British institutions.
Statement concerning the case of Brodie Mitchell
Royal Holloway and FSU-backed student Brodie Mitchell have reached a settlement in their free speech dispute, with the university making a goodwill payment and acknowledging it could have communicated more clearly.
Government Finally Addresses Free Speech Crisis at Universities
The FSU welcomes Bridget Phillipson’s decision to introduce the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act’s complaints scheme — a partial victory following the legal challenge the FSU brought against the Education Secretary’s decision to pause the Act.
New survey reveals teenagers don't share their political views for fear of being "cancelled"
A new Economist Educational Foundation survey finds nearly a quarter of 15- to 17-year-olds have held back their political views for fear of being ‘cancelled’ — with one in four also told to stop sharing opinions at school.
FSU Member Testimonial: Connie Shaw disciplined by Leeds University for gender-critical views
Connie Shaw was nearly expelled from the University of Leeds for expressing gender-critical beliefs — including ‘the offence’ of saying it was an honour to interview Graham Linehan. The Free Speech Union helped her beat the charges.
Censored poet and FSU member Polly Clark fights back
T.S. Eliot Prize-shortlisted poet Polly Clark had her book removed from a prestigious literary magazine after a single complaint about her gender-critical social media posts — and the Free Speech Union helped her fight back.
