Max Thompson

Yesterday, the Government effectively reintroduced Britain’s blasphemy laws, 18 years after Parliament abolished them. Today, they push ahead with the biggest assault on English liberty by restricting our right to jury trials. The scary thing is: it’s only Tuesday.

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A charity cancelled a choir because its leader believes that women do not have penises. Scope, a charity which supports disabled people, had invited a community choir to cheer on runners at the London Marathon under its banner. But just days before the marathon, Scope rescinded the invitation because the choir leader, Janet Murray, has publicly stated that she believes women are biologically female and that women should be entitled to single-sex spaces. Scope said these views conflicted with its “commitment to diversity and inclusion”. In correspondence with Janet, the charity reportedly said: “We are concerned about your views because we don’t agree with your views.” It seems Scope is more concerned about policing lawful opinions than supporting its charitable work on behalf of disabled people — many of whom rely on single-sex care and spaces themselves. Cases involving people being penalised for gender-critical beliefs remain one of the largest categories of cases handled by the Free Speech Union. Under the Equality Act, gender-critical beliefs are protected philosophical beliefs. Janet is a member of the Free Speech Union and is taking legal action against Scope alleging unlawful discrimination on the basis of her protected beliefs. If you have been discriminated against because of your belief that sex is biological and immutable, join the Free Speech Union — and we will stand up for your right to express lawful opinions. Hear from @_ConnieShaw below and join the FSU 👇

At the end of the trial, the judge praised how the two convicted rapists had conducted themselves: ‘You have done very well…’ He then let them off with a ‘rehabilitation order’. It was a disgrace. It wasn’t justice for the victims and their families. If you rape girls, brandish a knife, film it for sport - premeditated - you should go to prison. For a very long time. What message does this send to rapists? This insulting lenient ‘sentence’ must be overturned. The suitability of the judge who made this perverse decision must be reviewed by the Lady Chief Justice. It shows the rot that’s set in our criminal justice system. The Justice Secretary’s plan to create a softer route through the criminal justice system for those under 25 is mistaken. It will only encourage more of this. And David Lammy proposes raising the age of criminal responsibility to 14. That would have meant, for example, the killers of Jamie Bulger escaping prison altogether. No. Those who commit the most despicable - evil - crimes must go to jail. For punishment. For public protection. For justice. It’s as simple as that.

This week, the Government confirmed that it is pressing ahead with its authoritarian plan to slash our right to jury trials. Keir Starmer and David Lammy are ignoring warnings from judges, lawyers, opposition MPs, their own backbenchers, and victims of crime. Their plan will undermine public trust in the criminal justice system, increase the risk of violent assaults against judges, and take a wrecking ball to one of our most precious rights. Hear from FSU Campaigns Officer @MaxHThompson and join more than 50,000 people and sign our petition to SAVE JURY TRIALS 👇

We're seeing huge numbers of people being punished for criticising Islam or Muslim cultural practices at @SpeechUnion. This is the number of new such requests for help we get each month. Look what happens after Starmer comes to power. It's a 4x increase. And that was before the new 'anti-Muslim hostility' definition.

So much for her ‘summer savings’… Rachel Reeves is plotting to hike taxes on family holidays. She gives people crumbs now, whilst secretly preparing to fleece them royally tomorrow.

Sees bandwagon. Will jump.

I am pleased to hear David Lammy confirm the Government's commitment to bringing forward legislation on SLAPPs - Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation - as soon as time allows. This is long overdue. For too long, the rich and powerful have been able to silence their critics through bogus legal challenges.

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Christian street preachers are increasingly being targeted as police cave in to petty complaints. We need to clamp down on the misapplication of the Public Order Act 1986. This phenomenon is only set to worsen as public bodies zealously adopt the Government’s proposed definition of “anti-Muslim hostility”, which is already being used to silence legitimate criticism of Islam. Let’s look at some of the cases 👇 🧵

Some of the Bills announced in the King’s Speech have caught the attention of the Free Speech Union because of the potential threat they pose to free speech: 1. Digital ID Bill 2. Removal of Peers Bill 3. National Security Bill 4. Courts and Tribunals Bill (which could dilute the right to trial by jury) 5. The ‘Hillsborough Law’ 6. A draft Bill to ban conversion therapy Watch General Secretary of the Free Speech Union Lord Young’s reaction below 👇

Ben Jones says the PM was right to describe the UK as “an island of strangers”. The FSU’s Director of Case Management appeared on @GBNEWS to discuss his new book, Island of Strangers: Diversity, Decline and Free Speech in Crisis. The book examines how mass migration is reshaping Britain, and how an increasingly authoritarian state is attempting to manage the resulting hyper-diversity by suppressing free speech. Many have shied away from admitting that Britain is being transformed. Ben’s work over the past five years at the Free Speech Union led him to confront a difficult question: are Islam and free speech compatible? Although Parliament abolished blasphemy laws 18 years ago, the Government has effectively revived them — but only for Islam — through its official definition of “anti-Muslim hostility”, which is already being used to silence legitimate criticism of Islam. Just a few months ago, reports emerged that guidance issued to some schools in the north of England told teachers that children should not draw pictures of Jesus Christ because it could be considered blasphemous, as he is also a prophet in Islam. Watch @BenBarryJones on Free Speech Nation 👇

They think they can do what they like without a mandate. The problem isn't Starmer. It's Labour.

“As Britain becomes a more Muslim country, British politics becomes more concerned with Muslim issues.” A population of ‘just’ 6-8% is already distorting politics, law and culture around the preferences of Muslims. Nowhere more than around free speech. telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/03/1…

Thousands of officers deployed as crowds gather for London protests bbc.co.uk/news/articles/…

If the Director of Public Prosecutions has to insist that new guidance clamping down on civil liberties “is not about restricting free speech”, then it almost certainly is.

This is from the same man who: • Appointed the world’s most notorious paedophile’s best pal as US Ambassador • Prosecuted our brave veterans • Taxed farmers to literal death • Brought back to the UK a man who called us “dogs and monkeys” Now tell me who hates Britain…

This is the Prime Minister who it was a "top priority for my government" to bring Alaa Abd El-Fattah to Britain. A man who said the British are "dogs and monkeys", advocated the "killing of all zionists including civilians" and said white people are "a blight". Two-tier Keir.

John Edwards, an Independent councillor for Sandhurst, is being punished and silenced for telling the truth about an Afghan resettlement hotel scheme in Bracknell. Last April, Bracknell Forest Council started to house 300 Afghans in a four-star hotel. The scheme provided on-site healthcare and “move-on” support to help Afghans resettle in private rented properties, with deposits and upfront rent paid for. All of this information was already in the public domain. But the council didn’t appear to like John asking questions about the impact of the scheme on local services and residents. It subsequently launched a year-long investigation into him, costing taxpayers £15,000. During the process, key evidence was withheld from him, his accusers were granted anonymity, and fellow councillors accused him of racism and xenophobia. It was claimed he had been reported to the police, and he was even compared to the murderer of the late MP Jo Cox. After a year, the independent investigator cleared him of all charges. Instead of accepting the finding, the council returned with a new, narrower charge. John is now accused of bringing his office into disrepute for telling the truth and exposing aspects and consequences of the Afghan resettlement scheme that the council didn’t want the public to know. Throughout all of this, John has not been allowed to put forward a defence. He now faces a hearing where the same councillors who branded him a racist will decide his fate. The council is using taxpayers’ money to fund its action against John — to silence a political opponent. The Free Speech Union is proud to support John. He now needs your help, because if the council succeeds, it will create a blueprint for other councils to silence elected representatives and set a precedent whereby unelected officials decide which policies may be scrutinised and what information the public is allowed to hear. If you can, please donate to his crowdfunder to help pay for his legal defence. Watch John below and check out the latest FSU Podcast👇

The King’s Speech was barmy. Overshadowed by Labour infighting and: 🏬 Nothing about jobs & our High Streets after their jobs tax ⛽️ Nothing on cost of living & fuel tax 🫡 Nothing for our veterans 💷 Nothing on reducing welfare and keeping taxes under control