The Free Speech Union

The Free Speech Union
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Politics
  • Updated Weekly

Welcome to the Free Speech Union's podcast. Listen to our weekly episodes with great guests speaking about the cornerstone of our democracy which is under attack.  The Free Speech Union is a non-partisan, mass membership public interest body that stands up for the speech rights of its members and campaigns for free speech more widely. We champion the right of people from all walks of life to express themselves without fear of punishment or persecution. We often come to the defence of our members who get into trouble for exercising their right to lawful free speech, whether in the workplace, at university or on social media. Join the FSU: https://freespeechunion.org/join.html

  1. 10h ago

    CANCELLED for Islam Book Review: COLLIN MAY

    Collin May had a successful academic and professional career, culiminating in his appointment in 2022 as chair of the Human Rights Commission for the Canadian province of Alberta. But May's 2009 review of an academic book about Islam was about to destroy his career. The National Council of Canadian Muslims, a lobby group with links to the Muslim Brotherhood, claimed that passages in May's review were offensive and Islamophobic. May was sacked after defending his review and refusing to resign. In this powerful interview, May explains how this resulted him losing his home and his reputation. But the experience also inspired his book about cancel culture's evolution into something even more dangerous: “incarceration culture”. Collin May is now the reserach director of the Free Speech Union Canada. #freespeech #censorshipdebate #cancelculture Support the Free Speech Union: https://freespeechunion.org/join Follow the Free Speech Union X/Twitter: https://x.com/SpeechUnion Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/freespeechunion/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SpeechUnion Follow Collin May LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/collin-may-8b52b5/ X/Twitter: https://x.com/CollinM582807 Collin May is the author of "From Cancel Culture to Incarceration Culture: Prosecutorial Democracy and the Future of Cancellation" https://www.amazon.com/Cancel-Culture-Incarceration-Prosecutorial-Cancellation/dp/1680533703/ref=sr_1_1?crid=27W0VIQHAC3K5&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.J8DAk3dQCAmI833r5a1NghwsrksvmTNq7LFkf1yDkmgqYNibkEuMqMHiIspFCvRvclei4HNbZI-Ghqf6UPPnuw.-ckc1S7E8I1Iv10ZwAa51gzhWiIAOK1Gq0azkaovpbo&dib_tag=se&keywords=from+cancel+culture+to+incarceration+culture&qid=1786989661&sprefix=from+cancel+culture+to+incarcaration+cultu%2Caps%2C214&sr=8-1

  2. Aug 12

    An Anthropology of Free Speech with Prof Matei Candea

    The Charlie Hebdo attack divided Prof Matei Candea's friends. It also prompted him to embark on an anthropological study of free speech. The result is "Reason, Carnival and Honour: An Anthropology of Free Speech", a book which explores the hidden assumptions behind free speech debates. Professor Candea discusses his book with Dr Jan MacVarish, the Free Speech Union's director of national engagement. #freespeech #censorshipdebate Support the Free Speech Union: https://freespeechunion.org/join Follow the Free Speech Union X/Twitter: https://x.com/SpeechUnion Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/freespeechunion/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SpeechUnion Buy Professor Matei Candea’s book, Reason, Carnival and Honour, published by Pelican: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0241711258?tag=prhmarketing2552-21 Professor Matei Candea’s website: https://www.candea.org/

  3. Aug 5

    ANDREW DOYLE: New "Misinformation" Plan By Government Advisors Is Deeply Orwellian

    Comedian, author and commentator Andrew Doyle joins FSU General Secretary Lord Young to discuss a little-noticed government-commissioned report on misinformation and its implications for public debate. The report's Orwellian proposals include "psychological inoculation", "pre-bunking" and game-based "interventions" to steer the public towards state-approved political messages. Andrew Doyle and Lord Young also discuss: Why Andrew and Graham Linehan are working from Arizona Government proposals to give prominence online to approved news sources such as the BBC and Channel 4 News #freespeech #censorshipdebate #onlinesafety Support the Free Speech Union: https://freespeechunion.org/join Follow the Free Speech Union X/Twitter: https://x.com/SpeechUnion Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/freespeechunion/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SpeechUnion Follow Andrew Doyle X/Twitter: https://x.com/andrewdoyle_com?lang=en Andrew's website: https://www.andrewdoyle.org/ Andrew's Substack: https://substack.com/@andrewdoyle Read Andrew Doyle's Substack article about proposals to "inoculate" us against "wrongthink": https://www.andrewdoyle.org/p/the-government-report-that-wants Read Lord Young's Spectator article on the dangers of policing misinformation: https://spectator.com/article/the-dangers-of-policing-misinformation/ Read the report commissioned by the UK government's Office for Science, "False and Misleading Information: An Evidence Summary and Map for Policy and Practice" here: https://usher.ed.ac.uk/sites/default/files/2026-05/False%20and%20Misleading%20Information%3A%20An%20Evidence%20Summary%20and%20Map%20for%20Policy%20and%20Practice%20.pdf

  4. Aug 5

    LUCY CONNOLLY: free speech campaigner

    Sentenced to 31 months in prison for a tweet posted in anger after the Southport murders in 2024, Lucy Connolly pleaded guilty to inciting racial hatred. But should she have opted for a jury trial instead? One year after her release from prison, she talks to the FSU's Connie Shaw about her new life as a free speech campaigner and the author of A Tweet Too Far? #freespeech #twotierpolicing Support the Free Speech Union: https://freespeechunion.org/join Follow the Free Speech Union X/Twitter: https://x.com/SpeechUnion Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/freespeechunion/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SpeechUnion Follow Lucy Connolly X/Twitter: https://x.com/LucyTCWife Substack: https://lucyconnolly1.substack.com/

  5. Jul 17

    PAUL HOLDEN: Investigative Journalist on his fears for free speech under BURNHAM

    Leaked documents obtained by investigative journalist Paul Holden revealed an anti-free speech project at the heart of the Starmer government. In this edition of the Free Speech Union's podcast, Holden tells the FSU's David Rose why he fears free speech and online privacy could be further eroded under incoming Prime Minister Andy Burnham. #freespeech #onlineprivacy #labourparty Support the Free Speech Union: https://freespeechunion.org/join Follow the Free Speech Union X/Twitter: https://x.com/SpeechUnion Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/freespeechunion/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SpeechUnion Follow Paul Holden Paul is Director of Investigations at Shadow World Investigations: https://shadowworldinvestigations.org/ He is the author of "The Fraud: Keir Starmer, Morgan McSweeney, and the Crisis of British Democracy"

  6. Jul 15

    JAMES ESSES: campaigner, therapist and parent

    The latest threat to free speech on trans issues has been published by the government. The draft Conversion Practices Bill purports to protect gay and trans people from abuse. It creates a new criminal offence, punishable with up to five years in prison. Minister for Equalities, Emily Bailey MP, claims it won't stop parents and therapists talking openly to children with identity issues. She says it only crimnalises conversion practices which are abusive and which cause serious harm. However, James Esses, a therapist and campaigner who challenges children who believe they are "trapped in the wrong body" argues that the proposed new law puts him at risk of jail. #freespeech #transgender Support the Free Speech Union: https://freespeechunion.org/join Follow the Free Speech Union X/Twitter: https://x.com/SpeechUnion Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/freespeechunion/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SpeechUnion Follow James Esses X/Twitter: https://x.com/JamesEsses Substack: https://substack.com/@jamesesses James's home page: https://jamesesses.com/

  7. Jul 8

    TEENS SOCIAL MEDIA BAN - Your Questions Answered

    The UK government plans to ban social media for under 16s. Is it digital ID by stealth? The Free Speech Union's general secretary, Lord Young, answers this and other questions sent in by FSU members. *Will VPNs might be banned? *Is it true that the ban won't apply to Bluesky? *How will it be enforced? *How has a similar ban worked in Australia? *Will it lead to more censorship and regulation of the media?   Hosted by Jan McVarish, the FSU's education and events director. #freespeech #socialmediaban #digitalidentity   Support the Free Speech Union: https://freespeechunion.org/join   Follow the Free Speech Union X/Twitter: https://x.com/SpeechUnion Instagram: https://x.com/freespeechunion   Facebook: https://x.com/speechunion

  8. Jul 1

    NICK WALLIS: From the Post Office Scandal to the Trans Debate

    Investigative reporter Nick Wallis played a leading role in exposing the Post Office scandal. His BBC documentaries helped uncover the biggest miscarriage of justice in British legal history and led to a public inquiry. Now Nick's turning his journalistic skills to exposing the medical and safeguarding harms caused by trans ideology. But this time, he doesn't have the backing of the BBC. "I got involved when it became a free speech issue," he tells the Free Speech Union's Connie Shaw. #freespeech #transgender #bbcnews   Support the Free Speech Union: https://freespeechunion.org/join Follow the Free Speech Union X/Twitter: https://x.com/SpeechUnion Instagram: https://freespeechunion   Facebook: https://speechunion   Follow Nick Wallis X/Twitter: https://x.com/nickwallis Nick's website: https://nickwallis.com/ Donate to and follow Nick's work on trans: https://genderblog.net/ Donate to and follow Nick's work on the Post Office Scandal: https://www.postofficescandal.uk/

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About

Welcome to the Free Speech Union's podcast. Listen to our weekly episodes with great guests speaking about the cornerstone of our democracy which is under attack.  The Free Speech Union is a non-partisan, mass membership public interest body that stands up for the speech rights of its members and campaigns for free speech more widely. We champion the right of people from all walks of life to express themselves without fear of punishment or persecution. We often come to the defence of our members who get into trouble for exercising their right to lawful free speech, whether in the workplace, at university or on social media. Join the FSU: https://freespeechunion.org/join.html

Information

  • Creator
    The Free Speech Union
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    100
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2023 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    The Free Speech Union