The Free Speech Union

The moment you finally realise you’re leading the most authoritarian government in our country’s history: 1️⃣ Introducing an official definition of “anti-Muslim hostility” that silences legitimate criticism of religion — 18 years after Parliament abolished such laws. 2️⃣ Removing the right of most defendants to have a jury trial, in the biggest assault on English liberty in over 800 years. 3️⃣ Requiring pub landlords to monitor customers’ private conversations to protect staff from remarks, comments, or jokes they may find “offensive”. 4️⃣ Clamping down on lawful social media posts, arresting an Irish comedian for gender-critical tweets and even threatening to ban access to X in the UK. It’s not a great look, is it, Prime Minister…

🚨POLICE OFFICERS ARREST MAN WHO CRITICISED THEM IN BLOG POST A dozen officers searched his home and kept him in a cell overnight The case was dropped just 6 days later. Police ADMITTED the search was NOT LAWFUL Sam Smith, is now SUING Hertfordshire Police for wrongful arrest BRITISH POLICE ARE OUT OF CONTROL

An honour to host a terftastic evening with @ThePosieParker and @SpeechUnion members last night.

Three weeks after the Government announced its new official definition of Islamophobia, we still don’t know who the Islamophobia Tsar will be. Given that all five members of the Working Group tasked with drafting the definition have troubling links to Islamist organisations, this should concern us all. This definition has already been weaponised in attempts to silence legitimate criticism of Islam.

Since the Free Speech Union was founded in February 2020, we’ve fought over 5,600 cases. Where those cases have reached a conclusion, we’ve been successful in around 80 per cent of them. It has never been more important than it is today to stand up for free speech. Hear from our great friend @AllisonPearson at our 6th anniversary party on why you should join as a member 👇

Wow. Hertfordshire Police have a serious problem. The same force that wrongly arrested parents Maxie Allen and Rosalind Levine — who dared to criticise their daughter’s school on WhatsApp — and were later forced to pay £20,000 in compensation has struck again. A dozen officers turned up at the home of IT boss Sam Smith after receiving complaints from two Facebook group members last March. Smith had his house searched, his devices seized, and was forced to spend a night in a cell at Hatfield police station. The force later logged that the search was “not suitable or lawful”. He is now suing the force through the High Court for £700,000 in damages and personal injury. Sam Smith writes a blog under the name Matthew Hopkins, the Witchfinder General. He penned two blog posts to correct misinformation about a woman in a local park who was falsely accused of being a paedophile, photographed, and confronted as a result of online posts. After he criticised the police for inaction in one — particularly the local inspector — they pursued him. He was told he was being arrested for malicious communications. During the search, a pile of undelivered Conservative Party leaflets was also seized. Mr Smith is seeking a summary judgment at a hearing next month. He told the Mail: ‘So far Herts Police have failed to settle the case and ignored the recommendations of their own PCC in defiance of best practice and reason. It is a waste of public money and damages public confidence.’ In 2024, His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary found Hertfordshire Police required improvement in its investigation of crime and in its leadership and management, and was inadequate in its recording of offences. Read more below 👇

The Government's definition of "anti-Muslim hostility" is bad news for free speech, but it's also bad news for Sikhs, who are left with little choice but to join with the FSU's judicial review claim, says Hardeep Singh. dailysceptic.org/2026/03/28/the…

A masterclass in dismantling the Government’s ill-conceived plans to curtail trial by jury. There are lots of levers that can be pulled, but limiting jury trials is not one of them. @TheCriminalBar @thebarcouncil

The Government’s ‘anti-Muslim hostility’ definition — and its decision to appoint an Islamophobia tsar — is an insult to people of all other faiths, and to those of none. Hardeep Singh, a deputy director of the Network of Sikh Organisations, writes in Spiked: “Labour’s move is as cynical as it is predictable. Keir Starmer et al have clearly decided that, if their party is to have any future in certain seats, they need to appeal to Muslim voters — and fast.” This vague and subjective definition is already having a chilling effect on free speech. In a free society, no religion should be placed on a pedestal or granted greater protection than others — nor should it be shielded from criticism or debate. This is a Muslim blasphemy law that will shut down free speech and worsen community tensions. Read more below 👇

“I didn’t realise how deeply nuts it had got.” In the latest episode of the FSU podcast, Connie Shaw speaks to former Prime Minister Liz Truss about her time as Equalities Minister and the rise of trans ideology. @trussliz tells @_ConnieShaw she was given the Equalities brief after speaking up for Mumsnet as a free speech platform during an online debate on trans ideology. As Equalities Minister, she faced pressure from Stonewall and civil servants pushing the ‘progressive’ agenda. Watch Liz Truss and Connie Shaw below 👇 Full episode on our YouTube channel

The Court judgement (which I understand will be appealed) shows again why the Equality Act protection of belief is an utterly inadequate tool to protect academic freedom. The most appropriate law to deal with Emmanuel’s treatment of Cofnas would have been the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act. But the main duties of HEFSA were not in force in 2024. And even though those duties came into force from 1 August 2025, the statutory tort that would have allowed a claimant to sue in the county court for breach of those duties has not been brought into force and is now headed for repeal. As a result, Cofnas was forced to rely on the Equality Act, and Convention Rights, to make this claim. The government has said it will implement the Complaints Scheme (which will provide a route to enforcement of HEFSA by the OfS) but hasn't done so yet. The government should implement the Complaints Scheme and the new HEFSA-provided OfS registration conditions as soon as possible. And the next government should bring back the statutory tort to HEFSA.

In a last-ditch attempt to stave off a rebellion by up to 80 Labour MPs at the Second Reading of the Courts and Tribunals Bill, the Justice Secretary promised rebels representation on the Bill Committee scrutinising jury reforms. He has now broken that promise. Karl Turner nominated Rachael Maskell and Stella Creasy to serve on the committee, but both were rejected by Chief Whip Jonathan Reynolds. Turner has since said it is “clear that the Government is intent on treating the rebellion with utter contempt by ignoring the recommendations that were made.” This is a Government acting in bad faith. Read more below 👇

David Lammy is leading one of the most authoritarian attacks on our fundamental rights. Despite repeated warnings from judges, lawyers, politicians, and victims of crime that it won’t work — and will undermine public trust in our criminal justice system — Mastermind’s very own is pressing ahead with this sinister plan. If Lammy gets his way, more people will be locked up for exercising their right to free speech. Let’s not let this clown strip away our rights for the sake of his ego. Sign our petition to SAVE JURY TRIALS 👇

Yesterday our Chair, Chair of the The Criminal Bar Association, and The Northern Circuit of the Bar North Eastern and South Eastern Circuit Leaders gave oral evidence to the Courts and Tribunals Public Bill Committee. In two 30-minute sessions, they laid out the Bar's opposition to the government's proposals, the issues with the modelling, and our alternatives to cut the backlog – including examples from different circuits. Northern Circuit Leader Samantha Hillas KC explained to MPs: “The difficulty is that we don't necessarily accept the time saving or the [government’s] assertions as to the time savings. "So, let's take at face value the assertion that there's a 20% time saving. That takes a 5-day case down to 4. But you've got Clause 5 [of the Bill], which says that the judge has got to produce a judgment as soon as is reasonably possible thereafter. "When is that going to be written? That’s your fifth day, isn't it? Because that's what the judge is going to have to do on that day.” Parliament will now break for the Easter recess and return on Monday 13 April when line-by-line scrutiny of the Bill by the Committee will begin. We have made a detailed written submission to the Committee. (left to right on top picture) Riel Karmy-Jones KC and Kirsty Brimelow KC (left to right on bottom picture) Claire Davies KC, Samantha Hillas KC and Caroline Goodwin KC

📣 Promoting free expression on your campus? We want to support you. The Ian Mactaggart Programme helps foster open debate, independent thinking, and free expression among young people across the UK — especially students. We offer funding to individuals, societies, and groups creating opportunities for discussion, debate, and intellectual exploration for 16–30 year-olds. At a time when free speech on campus is under pressure — from cancelled speakers to students being sidelined for lawful views — this work matters more than ever. If you're already championing free speech, or want to get started, we’d love to hear from you. Check out the link below 👇