The Free Speech Union

The Free Speech Union

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

Episodes

May 22, 2026 34 mins

Former BBC editor Rob Burley talks about his recent Unherd investigation: "Inside the capture of the BBC How transgenderism killed impartiality."

 

This is an insider account of how bosses at one of Britain’s most important institutions became scared of young, woke employees and speaking freely. #freespeech #bbc #bbcnews

Read Rob's article for Unherd: https://unherd.com/2026/05/inside-the-capture-of-the-bbc/

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Journalist Janet Murray tells Connie Shaw how her views about trans impacted her community choir. The "Singing Striders" were dropped by disability charity Scope from performing at the London Marathon. Scope objected to Janet's views, even though they were unrelated to her work with the choir. Scope backed down at the last minute, but too late for the show to go on. The choir row is just the latest attack Janet has suffered in a lo...

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After Independent Councillor John Edwards asked questions about a scheme for housing Afghan migrants, he found himself under investigation by the local council. Even though he was cleared by an independent investigator, he still faces a hearing and has had to launch a CROWDFUNDER to defend himself.

JOHN'S CROWDFUNDER: https://www.gofundme.com/f/silenced-for-telling-the-truth-about-an-afghan-hotel-scheme?attribution_id=sl:a3a0cd74-4...

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The Labour MP and lifelong socialist reveals his fears about censorship, corporate spies and attempts to undermine democracy. #freespeech #pressfreedom #ukpolitics Plus, the Free Speech Union’s David Rose shares his exclusive investigation into a pro-censorship web of Labour apparatchiks. Read the FSU’s briefing, "Starmer’s Misinformation Mafia" now: https://freespeechunion.org//publications/starmers-misinformation-mafia Join the F...
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The conservative MP talks cover‑ups, community tensions, and free speech with FSU General Secretary Lord Young #GroomingGangs #freespeech #onlinesafety 

Follow Katie Lam MP: https://x.com/Katie_Lam_MP

Join the Free Speech Union: https://freespeechunion.org/

Follow the Free Speech Union:

X/Twitter: https://x.com/SpeechUnion

Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/freespeechunion/

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/SpeechUnion

 

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Can a man be a woman? When student Samiksha Bhattacharjee organised a campus debate on the topic "all hell broke out." #transgender #charliekirk #UKPolitics

Join the Free Speech Union: https://freespeechunion.org/

Follow the Free Speech Union X/Twitter: https://x.com/SpeechUnion

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/freespeechunion/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SpeechUnion

 

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Dr Shahrar Ali was the Deputy Leader of the Green Party from 2014 to 2016. He was removed as a spokeman for his gender critical views. Now, he believes the Greens are a danger to society. But he says it's not too late to save them. #islam #transgender #greenparty

Follow Shahar: https://x.com/ShahrarAli

Join the Free Speech Union: https://freespeechunion.org/

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X/Twitter: https://x.com/SpeechUnion

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Brodie Mitchell was banned from campus by Royal Holloway for telling a student that her Palestinian scarf looked like a tea towel. Now he might be prosecuted. #palestine #islam #israel

 

Donate to the Free Speech Union's crowdfunder: https://freespeechunion.org/fundraisers/islamophobia-fundraiser

 

Brodie Mitchell: https://www.tiktok.com/@brodie_uk

 

Join the Free Speech Union: https://freespeechunion.org/

 

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Fiyaz Mughal OBE is a Muslim community activist who opposes the government's recent decision to publish an official definition of Islamophobia — now repackaged as 'anti-Muslim hostility'. He tells David Rose, the FSU's director of research and policy, why. Fiyaz is the founder of Faith Matters and of Tell MAMA, an organisation set up to help victims of anti-Muslim hate crime. #labour #IslamophobiaDebate #freespeech #islam

 

Join th...

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Former Prime Minister Liz Truss on Islamism and why she's woken up to the issue of free speech. #Islam #labour #freespeech

 

The Liz Truss Show: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpILxhwF4a1H-iBA6Apb0FQ

 

Join the Free Speech Union: https://freespeechunion.org/

Follow the Free Speech Union:

X/Twitter: https://x.com/SpeechUnion

Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/freespeechunion/

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/SpeechUnion

 

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Toby Young scrutinises US lawyer Preston Byrne on his draft Free Speech Act for the UK. Plus, Ofcom v, 4Chan. #FreeSpeech #censorshipdebate #onlinesafetyact

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Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg is a former cabinet minister and Conservative MP for North East Somerset, and now a GB News presenter. He says Jim Ratcliffe's comments about immigration has cleared the path for others, and that the Equality Act should be scrapped. What do you think?

Follow Jacob: https://x.com/Jacob_Rees_Mogg

 

Join the Free Speech Union: https://freespeechunion.org/

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March 9, 2026 35 mins

FSU General Secretary Lord Young interviews Karl Turner MP, the leader of Labour's backbench rebellion against David Lammy's efforts to curtail the right to trial by jury.

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Jack Anderton is a political campaigner and adviser for Reform UK. Bangor University Debating and Political Society refused his request to speak and debate with students as part of his 'A New Dawn' tour, claiming that Reform UK members and representatives were "racist" "homophobic" and "transphobic". #reformuk #freespeech #university #cancelculture

Jack's events: https://jackanderton.com/events/

Follow Jack: https://x.com/JACKGUYA...

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David Rose is the Free Speech Union's Director of Research and Policy. His report on the Islamophobia working group has revealed that every single member has connections with Islamist organisations. #islam #freespeech #labour

READ THE REPORT IN FULL: https://freespeechunion.org/anti-free-speech-hostility-islamophobia.pdf

Join the Free Speech Union: https://freespeechunion.org/

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The Peter Mandelson scandal is unfolding, and the Labour government are drafting legislation to grant themselves the power to strip Lord Mandelson of his title. Seems justifiable.

But could this have huge unintended consequences for all members of the House of Lords?

Founder and General Secretary of the Free Speech Union, and Conservative Peer, Toby Young thinks so.

#mandelson #labour #cancelculture

Follow Toby Young: https://x.com...

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Charlie Peters is GB News’ National Reporter and an investigative journalist. He has extensively covered the grooming gangs scandal in the face of accusations of Islamophobia and racism. In this episode we discussed why the proposed ‘Islamophobia’ definition is dangerous for crucial work such as Charlie’s.    Join the Free Speech Union: https://freespeechunion.org/   Follow Charlie: https://x.com/CDP1882 Charlie’s groundbreaking do...
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This week, Jan Macvarish speaks to Brendan O’Neill about the regulation of Grok, how bad things were on Twitter before the Musk era and whether we can rely on billionaires to provide us with free speech.   They then move on to discuss the inspiring struggle for freedom in Iran and whether Brits who support freedom and democracy would be prepared to take to the streets in a similar manner. Many political protests in the UK today see...
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Lois McLatchie Miller is a free speech campaigner and a Christian writer and commentator. In 2025 she was arrested by fourteen police officers in Brussels, alongside Bill Board Chris, for wearing a signs that read “children cannot consent to puberty blockers” and “children are never born in the wrong body”.    Follow Lois on X: https://x.com/LoisMcLatch Lois’ substack: https://tradical.substack.com/ Lois’ arrest: https://x.com/Lois...
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Darren Grimes is the Reform UK deputy leader of County Durham County Council.  Since Reform was elected to Durham County Council in May, there have been 172 complaints about councillors, with 34 leading to taxpayer-funded investigations. 21 of the complaints were against Darren Grimes.   Darren subsequently amended the constitution to protect freedom of speech. The amendments were inspired by the FSU code of conduct for elected mem...
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