Cancel culture and no-platforming
The Free Speech Union has covered 32 stories on this topic. Browse our coverage below.
20 May 2026
Choir launches legal action against disability charity Scope after cancellation over gender-critical views
The Singing Striders, a choir whose invitation to perform at the London Marathon was withdrawn by disability charity Scope over the gender-critical beliefs of its founder Janet Murray, has launched legal action against the charity. Murray and three fellow members are seeking a formal apology and damages, arguing that Scope unlawfully discriminated against her on the basis of a belief that is explicitly protected under the Equality Act 2010. Janet joined External Affairs Officer Connie Shaw on this week's episode of the FSU Podcast to discuss her experience.
15 May 2026
Independent Councillor and FSU Member Silenced and Punished for Telling the Truth About Four-Star Hotel Afghan Resettlement Scheme
Independent councillor for Sandhurst, John Edwards, is being punished and silenced for telling the truth about an Afghan resettlement hotel scheme in Bracknell. Despite the information already being public, political opponents on the council tried to silence him. He was cleared of all charges after an independent investigation, but the council are after him again. He needs your help.
15 May 2026
The Government Bans ‘Far-Right Agitators’ from Entering the UK
Starmer bans "right-wing" commentators from entering the UK ahead of the Unite the Kingdom rally.
11 May 2026
An opera has been cancelled by Minack Theatre after a single complaint over cultural insensitivity
Minack Theatre has pulled a production of Lakmé after a US-based Hindu campaigner called it "deeply problematic". The complainant has called for the president and artistic director of Surrey Opera to apologise and undergo "cultural sensitivity training".
11 May 2026
After the High Court ruling on the University of Sussex vs the Office for Students, free speech on campus will be weaker and litigation is set to rise
The High Court ruling in the case of the University of Sussex v the Office for Students (OfS) will weaken free speech on campus and see litigation rise. Students lose out; lawyers will be the only winners.
8 May 2026
GCSE students are being taught that it is their civic duty not to offend
GCSE pupils are being told in a revision guide for Citizenship studies that Britons have a responsibility "to use freedom of speech but not offend".
5 May 2026
Is it a crime to make fun of a keffiyeh?
A student is under police investigation for comparing a Palestine activist's headgear to a 'tea towel' — the latest example of Britain's de facto blasphemy law at work on university campuses.
30 April 2026
Charity cancels choir at the London Marathon over its founder's gender-critical views
The choir Singing Striders had its invitation to perform at the London Marathon rescinded by disability charity Scope. The reason for the last-minute cancellation was the founding member Janet Murray's gender-critical beliefs. Following public backlash, Scope reinstated the invitation — but by that point, the choir had decided to go it alone.
24 April 2026
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.
23 April 2026
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.
22 April 2026
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.
22 April 2026
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.
21 April 2026
Brodie Mitchell and Royal Holloway settle free speech dispute
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.
18 April 2026
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.
18 April 2026
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.
2 June 2025
Radiohead bassist: Concert cancellations ‘curtail free speech’
23 January 2025
Student suicide prompts fears of the wider implications of cancel culture
28 November 2024
Lord Hague demands end to cancel culture in defence of free speech
12 November 2024
How Oxbridge’s “self-appointed morality crusades” took cancel culture too far
10 November 2024
University cancel culture “eroding” liberal values, warn authors
10 November 2024
I lived in fear of being cancelled as an Oxbridge student. We all did
28 October 2024
Inside the anti-woke university where you can’t be cancelled
10 October 2024
FSU intervenes after “mob rule tactics” force cancellation of ex-Home Secretary’s Cambridge speech
6 September 2024
Students scared to speak their minds for fear of being cancelled, say Oxford dons
28 July 2024
Scrapping cancel culture law “puts campus free speech in peril”, Labour warned
3 May 2024
Britain must fight ‘chilling effect’ of cancel culture, Sunak says
24 April 2024
The human cost of cancel culture
31 January 2024
Victims of cancel culture unite for free speech, calling on Ireland to abandon far-reaching censorship bill
29 January 2024
Cancel culture preventing Tavistock victims from coming forward, says lawyer
Cancel culture survey – the results are in!
Army Colonel who saved lives in Afghanistan cancelled for gender critical views
No-Platforming Incident at Exeter University
