Free Speech Union International

Free Speech Union International defends freedom of speech, including freedom of the press, expression, conscience, religion and intellectual inquiry.

[Toby Young @toadmeister]

Earlier today a @Guardian journalist sent me this query:

Dear Toby Young,

I'm Aisha Down, a journalist at the Guardian. I'm getting in touch because we're planning to report that the US state department is considering a grant of $5m to Free Speech Union, your organisation, as part of a new grant-making scheme, and wanted to give you the chance to comment. We would appreciate receiving your comment by 14:30.

We are considering reporting the following:

- The grant to the FSU is part of a package to Maga aligned groups that former US officials have condemned as a misuse of public money to seek influence over foreign politics and interfere with democracy.

- It is rare for the US government to fund partisan political organisations in western countries.

- These grants are likely to pose a challenge to Andy Burnham, who has said he will be "very upfront" with Trump about any disagreements.

- These grants - including to your organisation - are "sole source" grants, meaning they are to be awarded without any competitive process. This is unusual for a highly regulated process which usually requires grantees to show they have a track record for handling funds and clear plans for the money.

- This lack of process has been criticised as "outrageous and absurd" by former US officials, and as "gross incompetence" and "horrible stewardship" of US taxpayer money.

- Your organisation does not appear to have a track record of handling grants of this amount.

- We describe your organisation as "a rallying point for “anti-woke” grievance" which "frequently allies itself with rightwing causes" and say that you, Toby Young, appeared on Rees-Mogg's GB news show earlier this month to warn about 'Soviet-style' censorship in the UK.

- The state department says that its grant to FSU will “support campaigns promoting free speech and countering digital overregulation across the UK, Europe and Australia”. The sole-source award is justified “due to FSU’s global network of free speech activists”.

We would like to fully and fairly reflect your point of view and look forward to your statement. Thank you,

--
Aisha Kehoe Down
Senior Tarbell Fellow,
Guardian News and Media

I replied as follows:

It sounds like a pretty garbled story.

Free Speech Union International, which is the umbrella group that FSU UK, FSU Australia, FSU New Zealand, FSU Canada, FSU South Africa and FSU Brazil sit within, has expressed interest in applying for grant funding from the US State Department. This would be to promote the right to freedom of expression in those countries, which, far from being a partisan cause, is a universal human right. But it hasn't submitted a formal application and, consequently, has been awarded no grant from the State Department or any other branch of the US Government.

You've mischaracterised the FSUs, all of which are non-partisan organisations that defend people who get into trouble for exercising their right to feee speech regardless of their political views. The FSU UK, for instance, is currently paying for the legal defence of a protestor who's being prosecuted for holding up a sign saying "I support Palestine Action", as well as a protestor for wearing a t-shirt at a Unite the Kingdom rally for saying "Fuck Islam Christ is King". Yes, we helped Lucy Connolly appeal her sentence -- we thought a prison sentence of over two-and-a-half years for a single tweet was excessive -- but we also tweeted yesterday, condemning the arrest of Heather Herbert and offering our support. Yes, we came to the defence of Nigel Farage when he was debanked, but we've also offered to help the Canary in its recent debanking case. So to describe the FSU UK as a "rallying point for anti-woke grievance" is misleading. We are a rallying point for those who want to defend the right to freedom of expression.

Best,

Toby

The @Guardian then ran this story:

https://t.co/1l4K0PABvM

You be the judge of whether you think this is good journalism.

[spiked @spikedonline]

How did Amnesty International go from championing the rights of political prisoners to championing the right of men to use women’s bathrooms?
https://t.co/UmVAVlVLNR

[The Free Speech Union @SpeechUnion]

FSU General Secretary Lord Young speaking at ARC today alongside the heads of Free Speech Unions from Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Brazil. @ARC_Conference

[The Free Speech Union @SpeechUnion]

The Free Speech Union exposed in our investigative briefing that ALL FIVE MEMBERS of the Working Group tasked with drafting the official definition of Islamophobia — now repackaged as “anti-Muslim hostility” — have troubling links to Islamist organisations.

This definition is already being weaponised to stifle legitimate criticism of Islam, its practices, and its history.

In a free society, no religion should be afforded greater protection than others, nor shielded from legitimate criticism and debate.

It will inevitably deter people — including public officials and media outlets — from speaking out about the grooming gangs scandal and Islamist extremism.

Read our briefing below 👇

[(((Jon Benjamin)))🇬🇧🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🇨🇱✡️ ⚒🇬🇭 @JonBenjamin19]

I’m honoured to become a member of the Advisory Board of the brand new Free Speech Union of Brazil https://t.co/JvhCX0gyni @FSU_BR

[Free Speech Union of Canada @FSU_Canada]

Today, we’re celebrating the ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY of @FSU_Canada 🇨🇦

Thank you to all of our members, we are humbled by your support, and could not do this without you!

We are proud of all we have accomplished in this first year and are honoured to continue this important work in 2026.

Sign up to become a member today at https://t.co/t5gZTfN31T!

[The Free Speech Union @SpeechUnion]

🚨EVERY MEMBER OF THE WORKING GROUP ON ISLAMOPHOBIA HAS LINKS TO ISLAMIST ORGANISATIONS.

The controversial Working Group tasked with drafting an official definition of Islamophobia operated in secrecy.

This definition — now rebranded as “anti-Muslim hostility” — will have a chilling effect on free speech.

It will silence legitimate criticism of Islam and its practices, and deter open discussion of serious public concerns, including the grooming gangs scandal and Islamist extremism.

So who is behind Britain’s new Muslim blasphemy law?

FSU Director of Policy and Research @DavidRoseUK has published a new briefing exposing the Working Group’s members and their links to Islamists.

A thread 🧵

[🗣 Free Speech Union ✊ @NZFreeSpeech]

Leaders who attack free speech are exposing their own weaknesses.

[The Free Speech Union @SpeechUnion]

Tonight in the House of Lords, Lord Young of Acton proposed an amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill that would scrap Non-Crime Hate Incidents.

NCHIs have had a chilling effect on free speech — while also being a complete waste of police time.

Since the concept of NCHIs was introduced in 2014, police forces in England and Wales alone are estimated to have spent at least 660,000 hours investigating and recording them. These include NCHIs logged against a woman for saying she thought her cat was a Methodist on X, a man who whistled the theme tune to Bob the Builder and a nine-year-old child for 'hurty words' in the playground.

The most pernicious aspect of an NCHI is that it remains on your record for six years and can be disclosed in an enhanced DBS check. You can literally be refused a job for committing a non-crime.

The Free Speech Union has campaigned for the abolition of NCHIs since it was founded in 2020. Police chiefs have finally come around to our thinking and are set to recommend to the Home Secretary that they be scrapped.

Lord Young’s amendment would abolish NCHIs entirely, delete all historic records, and ensure that in future non-crimes aren't disclosed in employment background checks.

If we are going to scrap NCHIs, let’s do it properly.

Watch Lord Young below 👇

[The Free Speech Union @SpeechUnion]

Warning to all @unisontheunion's women members: if you get into trouble with your employer for objecting to an unlawful policy in your workplace allowing men to access single sex women's spaces, your union won't defend you. We will. Join the @speechunion https://t.co/tLUlkyzZii

[The Free Speech Union @SpeechUnion]

@RobertJenrick is right.

The police are capitulating to Islamist extremists rather than confronting them, for fear of being labelled racist.

The decision to ban Maccabi Tel-Aviv fans from attending a Europa League match in November, citing safety concerns, is an egregious example.

If the Government implements its official definition of Islamophobia — now repackaged as “anti-Muslim hostility” — it will silence legitimate debate and criticism of Islam.

In a free society, no religion is beyond criticism or legitimate challenge. Public services must not be deterred from doing their job for fear of being branded “Islamophobic”.

Read more below 👇

[Free Speech Union of Canada @FSU_Canada]

This is why we need to restore a free speech culture. Much of the censorship of the past decade or two has come from citizens and non-governmental organizations "cancelling" other citizens for their (often mainstream) opinions. The government doesn't need to bother censoring speech that might challenge the orthodoxy when it has a volunteer army running around doing its dirty work.

The FSUC is here to protect free speech from the government AND the mobs -- before it's gone for good. Join us.

@GarnettGenuis @YorkUniversity

[The Free Speech Union @SpeechUnion]

An official definition of Islamophobia would stifle free speech, particularly discussion of important topics such as the grooming gangs scandal and Islamist terrorism.

Blasphemy laws were abolished in 2008 — 17 years ago. This government appears intent on resurrecting them and is due to publish the long-awaited definition this week.

No religion in a free society should be beyond legitimate criticism or challenge.

Use our tool on our website to write to your MP and tell them that you oppose an official definition of Islamophobia.
👇

https://t.co/RlAleDHX63

[The Free Speech Union @SpeechUnion]

Ex-footballer Joey Barton is appealing his conviction.

Earlier this week, Joey was handed a six-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, for sending “grossly offensive” messages on social media.

This is a disproportionate punishment. No one should receive a custodial sentence for “hurty words” online — especially when hardened criminals are being released early due to a lack of space in our prisons.

[The Free Speech Union @SpeechUnion]

Let’s send @DavidLammy a loud and clear message: you don’t get to rip up our liberties — especially free speech.

We’re closing in on 30,000 signatures on our petition to save jury trials.

In the most authoritarian move by this government to date, they plan to slash our 800 year-old right to trial by jury.

Our research shows that those who justify their actions on free speech grounds are almost twice as likely to be acquitted in a Crown Court with a jury than in a magistrates’ court without one.

If you value English liberty — especially free speech — ✍️ SIGN OUR PETITION: https://t.co/xPotJM6DNO

[The Free Speech Union @SpeechUnion]

Free speech is a hallmark of any healthy democracy — yet it’s now in greater peril than at any point since the Second World War.

Since its founding, @SpeechUnion has fought 5,100 cases and receives, on average, 75 requests for help every week.

Many assume that being cancelled or silenced only affects high-profile figures, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Most of those we help are simply getting on with their lives — NHS workers, shopkeepers, veterans and parents.

There are increasingly sinister attempts to silence those who don’t subscribe to the prevailing orthodoxy. We can’t allow that to happen.

If you’re worried you could run into trouble at work, university or in everyday life, join the Free Speech Union: https://t.co/HwrZ2LW3QE

Read more below 👇

[The Free Speech Union @SpeechUnion]

🚨 Sign our petition to stop David Lammy’s assault on free speech!

@SpeechUnion is extremely concerned about David Lammy’s proposal to scrap the 800 year-old right to trial by jury.

Juries are a bulwark of English liberty, particularly the right to free speech. They are often the last line of defence against the authoritarian cancel-culture mob. 

We analysed Ministry of Justice data from 2017-25, comparing the acquittal rate for those charged with speech crimes in jury trials with non-jury trials and the results are quite startling.

For all offences, crown court juries acquitted 21.6 per cent of the time in the last eight years, whereas it's just 11.4 per cent in magistrates courts.

For speech-related cases, the acquittal rate in jury trials rises to 27.6 per cent, compared to 15.9 per cent in mags, and in the last three years juries have been even more likely to find defendants not guilty of speech crimes -- 32.1 per cent compared to 14.1 per cent.

It could not be clearer: if the right to trial by jury is scrapped, you'll be much more likely to find yourself banged up for exercising your right to free speech.

Sign below ✍️ 

https://t.co/xPotJM6DNO

[The Free Speech Union @SpeechUnion]

🚨The Online Safety Act has created a minefield for individuals and businesses trying to navigate life online.

The consequences of getting any of the Ofcom guidance wrong can be financially ruinous.

So, we at @SpeechUnion want to help you!

Do you run a small to medium website that Ofcom is looking into? Are you likely to fall into the ‘small but risky’ category of providers?

Have Ofcom approached you and your business about OSA compliance?

If this answer is yes, please contact us at [email protected]

[The Free Speech Union @SpeechUnion]

The Government appears intent on reviving blasphemy laws, despite their abolition 17 years ago.

Unsurprisingly, the public is unconvinced. A new JL Partners survey shows that a majority of Brits oppose adopting an official definition of Islamophobia in any form.

Such a definition would have a chilling effect on free speech and suppress legitimate debate on issues such as Islamist terrorism and the grooming gangs scandal.

Read more below 👇