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Latest News and Victories

Protesters hold placards and a megaphone outside Oxford University's Faculty of Law, demonstrating against a Sex and Gender in the Law lecture

Oxford professor cancels lecture series after pro-trans activist abuse

Oxford professor and expert on equality law Dr Michael Foran has been forced to cancel his lecture series after sustained abuse from trans activists.

A South Wales Police officer drops a binder labelled Blasphemy Law Guidance – Scrapped into a confidential recycling bin outside a police station

South Wales Police shelve Islamic blasphemy law after FSU legal threat

South Wales Police have shelved their controversial "anti-Muslim hostility" definition after the Free Speech Union threatened them with a judicial review.

Fire service chiefs addressing firefighters beneath signs reading 'Reform UK is not part of it'

Manchester fire chiefs caution staff over support for Reform UK

Senior figures at Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service have cautioned firefighters who support Reform UK and urged staff to report colleagues over their political views — prompting the Free Speech Union to write to Mayor Andy Burnham warning of a chilling effect on lawful political expression.

The FSU is supporting a former hate crime scrutiny panel chair after she was sacked by police for calling the threat from Islamism the "elephant in the room"

The Chairman of Bradford's policing scrutiny panel was sacked by West Yorkshire Police after complaining that officers were ignoring the elephant in the room of Islamist extremism after last year's synagogue attack.

Sarah Wynn-Williams on stage at the Hay Festival

Facebook silences former employee at Hay Festival

Meta is silencing Sarah Wynn-Williams, a former Director of Global Public Policy at Facebook, who published a memoir — Careless People — containing damning claims about the company's internal culture and its appeasement of the Chinese government. Bound by a legal order that exposes her to a $50,000 fine for every breach, Wynn-Williams sat in silence on stage at the Hay Festival while Professor Tim Wu answered questions on her behalf.

Free Speech Union 'FSU Victory' graphic marking FSU member James Cooper's acquittal at Manchester Crown Court

FSU member James Cooper acquitted of violent disorder

FSU member James Cooper has been unanimously acquitted of violent disorder at Manchester Crown Court, after the Free Speech Union funded his defence over his attendance at a 2024 protest outside a Manchester asylum hotel.

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The Organisation in Numbers

A strong community dedicated to protecting free expression

Members and Supporters in our community

10,000+

Campaign emails sent to MPs using our digital petition tools

Member cases processed by our in-house support team

89%

Our recent membership satisfaction survey score

With you all the way

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 people who’ve found themselves in trouble merely for expressing a controversial opinion or for exercising their right to lawful free speech, whether at college or university, in the workplace or on social media.

If you’re looking for information and guidance, or in need of immediate help, our team of experts are here to provide assistance, resources and support.

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The Freedoms We Defend

Freedom of Speech

Free speech is a fundamental human right and the most important one of all because without it we wouldn’t be able to defend the others. It’s the lifeblood of democracy and a bulwark against tyranny.

Academic Freedom

Academic freedom is the lifeblood of universities. By engaging in open discussion, students and academics are able to develop different ideas and advance the frontiers of knowledge.

Freedom of Expression

Freedom of expression extends to nonverbal and creative forms of communication — art, music, film, performance and symbols — that convey ideas beyond spoken or written words.

Freedom of the Press

Freedom of the press is essential for the proper functioning of democracy. Without journalists holding the powerful to account citizens cannot make informed decisions at the ballot box.

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Please consider supporting the Free Speech Union. Your donation helps fund our legal work, campaigning and member support so we can continue defending free expression across Britain. Any contribution—large or small—makes a real difference.

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If you'd like to join the Free Speech Union, we'd welcome your support. Click below to explore our membership levels, learn about the benefits available to members, and choose the option most suitable for you.

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