BEGIN:VCALENDAR
VERSION:2.0
PRODID:-//The Free Speech Union - ECPv6.13.2.1//NONSGML v1.0//EN
CALSCALE:GREGORIAN
METHOD:PUBLISH
X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://freespeechunion.org
X-WR-CALDESC:Events for The Free Speech Union
REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H
X-Robots-Tag:noindex
X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H
BEGIN:VTIMEZONE
TZID:Europe/London
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:+0000
TZOFFSETTO:+0100
TZNAME:BST
DTSTART:20240331T010000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:+0100
TZOFFSETTO:+0000
TZNAME:GMT
DTSTART:20241027T010000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:+0000
TZOFFSETTO:+0100
TZNAME:BST
DTSTART:20250330T010000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:+0100
TZOFFSETTO:+0000
TZNAME:GMT
DTSTART:20251026T010000
END:STANDARD
END:VTIMEZONE
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20250618T183000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20250618T200000
DTSTAMP:20250624T070633
CREATED:20250514T161514Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250519T134916Z
UID:10000113-1750271400-1750276800@freespeechunion.org
SUMMARY:DEBATING FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND HUMAN RIGHTS
DESCRIPTION:FREE SPEECH UNION SCOTLAND: DUNDEE\nDEBATING FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND HUMAN RIGHTS \nWednesday 18th June\, 2025  \n6.30pm\, doors open 6pm  \nVENUE: University of Dundee\, Perth Road\, Dundee. Room location will be provided after booking.  \nREGISTRATION HERE: ENTRY IS FREE BUT PRE-REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. ON REGISTRATION\, YOU WILL BE INVITED TO MAKE A DONATION TO COVER SPEAKER EXPENSES.  \nJoin us for an essential and timely conversation about Freedom of Speech and Human Rights.   \nThe concept of Human Rights is a hotly contested area of political debate—perhaps never more so than now in Scotland. Scotland’s political and civic divisions are replicated in every jurisdiction across the western hemisphere. Free speech is under threat in a culture which prioritises the claims of those deemed at risk from offence or ‘hate’ speech. So how can rights be balanced in Scottish society?  \n In 2026 Scotland goes to the polls to elect a new Scottish Government. The campaign brings with it a certainty that the balance between government oversight and individual freedoms will be argued over throughout. On the one hand we have the Scottish Government’s Programme for Government 2025-26\, a manifesto with big government at its heart\, on the other we have populist political forces surging through the mainstream ranks and demanding attention. Have the public been ignored by those they usually elect? How has human rights law\, borne out of a desire for European peace after WWII\, developed and been used? Are we as individuals entitled to ‘rights’? Where does the balance sit between fairness\, equality and respect in a society where people feel unheard by government? What do populist forces mean for Scotland in the future?  \n Our panel brings together FSU’s founder Toby Young\, Dundee law professor Dr Claire Methven O’Brien\, former SNP MP Joanna Cherry KC\, and human rights academics Dr David McGrogan of Northumbria University and Professor James Allan from the University of Queensland\, Australia.   \n This is a discussion not to be missed and the FSU looks forward to welcoming you along to our first event in Dundee. \nAfterwards\, we’ll be heading to a nearby pub for drinks and further conversation. \nSPEAKERS  \n Dr Claire Methven O’Brien is a life-long human rights advocate\, researcher and practitioner. She is Reader in Law at the University of Dundee’s School of Law and a member of the Scottish Human Rights Commission.   \n Joanna Cherry KC was the MP for Edinburgh South West from 2015 to 2024. Laterally she chaired Parliament’s Joint Committee on Human Rights. She has now returned to her practice at the Scottish bar and is a trustee of the LGB Alliance and a member of the advisory panel to the Free Speech Union in Scotland.   \n Dr David McGrogan David McGrogan is Associate Professor of Law at Northumbria Law School. His research looks critically at international human rights law\, with particular reference to how it serves to buttress the power of the state.  \nProfessor James Allan is Garrick Professor of Law at The University of Queensland\, with special interest in legal and moral philosophy\, constitutional law and bills of rights. He has previously taught in New Zealand\, the USA and Hong Kong\, but was born in Canada and practised law in Toronto and in London. His latest book is ‘The Age of Foolishness: A Doubter’s Guide to Constitutionalism in a Modern Democracy’ and he also writes for The Australian\, The Spectator Australia\, Quadrant and the Daily Sceptic.  \n Chair: Toby Young (Lord Young of Acton) \nToby Young is a British journalist and campaigner. He is the founder and general secretary of the Free Speech Union\, an associate editor of The Spectator and the editor-in-chief of the Daily Sceptic. He was made a life peer in 2024. 
URL:https://freespeechunion.org/event/dundee-speakeasy-debating-freedom-of-speech-and-human-rights/
LOCATION:University of Dundee\, Perth Road\, Dundee\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Public Debates,Regional Speakeasies
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://freespeechunion.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/2025-EventBrite-Thumbnail-2160-x-1080-px-7.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20250531T190000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20250531T220000
DTSTAMP:20250624T070633
CREATED:20250407T153211Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250509T113203Z
UID:10000109-1748718000-1748728800@freespeechunion.org
SUMMARY:EQUALITY\, FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND THE LAW
DESCRIPTION:Equality\, Freedom of Speech and the Law\nAkua Reindorf KC talks to Jo Bartosch\n**THIS EVENT HAS NOW SOLD OUT**\nDate: Saturday 31 May\nTime: Door and bar open 6.00pm\nEvent: 7.00pm-8.30pm with Q&A\nFrom 8.30pm social and networking.\nIn person: Central Manchester Location near Piccadilly Train Station. Precise details will be sent out to ticket-holders on the day. \nWRN Manchester in Partnership with Free Speech Union\nDiscount tickets for FSU Members – scroll down for link \nJoin us for an evening of fascinating conversation with one of the most authoritative legal voices working in equality law today. \nAkua Reindorf KC is an award-winning barrister specialising in Discrimination and Equality\, Employment\, and Human Rights. She has been a key figure in the debates on sex and gender and freedom of speech and been involved in some of the critical investigatory and litigation activity in these areas as well as writing and speaking widely. She is also a Visiting Senior Lecturer at LSE Law School\, and a Commissioner of the EHRC (but is appearing at the event in a personal capacity). \nAkua wrote the University of Essex’s ‘Reindorf Report’ on suppression of academic freedom as a result of the de-platforming and blacklisting of Jo Phoenix and Rosa Freedman\, both academics who have expressed sex realist views. She successfully defended the LGB Alliance and recently provided a Legal Advice on Manchester City Council’s policy on single sex spaces for the Women’s Rights Network and Labour Women’s Declaration. She is a vocal critic of Labour’s initial plans to pause the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act 2023 and an advocate for freedom of expression\, freedom of speech and academic freedom. \nJoin the audience for this special event where Akua will be interviewed by Jo Bartosch\, a campaigner for the rights of women and girls and a journalist who writes on women\, sex-based rights\, and freedom of speech. Jo is a widely published journalist with bylines in The Times\, Telegraph\, and Mail on Sunday. She is assistant editor of The Critic\, regularly contributes to Spiked and Unherd and is also the Memo Editor for Sex Matters. Jo can always be guaranteed to be funny\, scathing and bang on the nose. \n  \n\nTICKETS\nStandard ticket: £13Special rate for FSU members: £10.40Solidarity ticket: £18
URL:https://freespeechunion.org/event/equality-freedom-of-speech-and-the-law/
LOCATION:London
CATEGORIES:Partner Event,Regional Speakeasies
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://freespeechunion.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/WhatsApp-Image-2025-05-09-at-09.40.36.jpeg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20250529T193000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20250529T210000
DTSTAMP:20250624T070633
CREATED:20250425T122434Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250514T160846Z
UID:10000111-1748547000-1748552400@freespeechunion.org
SUMMARY:BOOK LAUNCH: ANDREW DOYLE'S 'THE END OF WOKE'
DESCRIPTION:BOOK LAUNCH \n**NOW IN-PERSON AND ONLINE**\nTHE END OF WOKE by ANDREW DOYLE\nCHANGE OF DATE: Thursday 29th May 7.30pm\nPrince Phillip House\, 3 Carlton House Terrace\, London SW1Y 5DG. \nInterview with Andrew Doyle and Q and A\, 7.30pm to 9pm. Reception to follow.\nTICKETS HERE: Free Speech Union Members: £12; Non-members: £20; Students: £14. \nONLINE ATTENDANCE: FREE AND EXCLUSIVE TO FSU MEMBERS. Online Audience Q and A will be possible. REGISTER ONLINE USING THE LINK PROVIDED IN FSU’S WEEKLY NEWSLETTER AND EMAILS FROM FSU EVENTS. \nSigned copies of The End of Woke can be purchased here. \nWriter\, broadcaster and comedian Andrew Doyle joins FSU Members for an exclusive online launch of his latest book\, The End of Woke. The event will take place on the day of the book’s release—you can buy a copy on the night if you would like to get it signed by the author or pre-order a copy here. \nAbout THE END OF WOKE by Andrew Doyle \nA revelatory investigation into the rise and fall of the ‘woke’ movement and how we can prevent it from happening again. \nIt is no secret that we are in the midst of a cultural revolution. Activists in the ‘woke’ movement have claimed to be on the right side of history\, and yet their approach has been intolerant\, intemperate and\, above all\, illiberal. Having dominated the western world for the past fifteen years\, there are clear signs the woke are now losing their power. The re-election of Donald Trump\, the scaling back of DEI initiatives\, and a growing awareness of the threats to women’s sex-based rights has stirred a counter-revolution. But is this truly the end of woke? Or have the culture wars merely evolved? \nIn The End of Woke\, Doyle skilfully examines the mechanisms underlying the zealous extremes on both the left and the right. He shows that\, in a desperate power struggle to re-assert liberal values\, some leaders of the anti-woke movement have found themselves adopting a different kind of authoritarian approach – one which also promotes censorship and erodes our freedoms. \nDoyle argues that although authoritarianism is common to all political tribes\, we must resist its pernicious influence wherever it emerges. After all\, replacing one form of tyranny with another will not end the culture wars. But liberalism – true liberalism – might just see the end of woke for good.
URL:https://freespeechunion.org/event/online-book-launch-andrew-doyles-the-end-of-woke/
LOCATION:Prince Phillip House\, 3 Carlton House Terrace\, London\, SW1Y 5DG\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Book Launches & Promotions,Guest Interviews,Online Event
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://freespeechunion.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/2025-EventBrite-Thumbnail-2160-x-1080-px-3-1.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20250521T191500
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20250521T223000
DTSTAMP:20250624T070633
CREATED:20250408T150601Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250408T150712Z
UID:10000110-1747854900-1747866600@freespeechunion.org
SUMMARY:FAITH AND FREE SPEECH IN SCOTLAND
DESCRIPTION:FSU Edinburgh Speakeasy\nFAITH AND FREE SPEECH IN SCOTLAND\nWednesday 21st May \nThe Counting House\, 34 West Nicolson St\, Newington\, Edinburgh EH8 9DD. \nPanel debate 7.15pm – 9pm\, (doors open 6.30pm)\, bar open until 10.30pm. \nIn the second of a Spring series of public debates about free speech in Scotland\, the FSU returns to The Counting House\, 38 West Nicolson Street\, Edinburgh\, for a panel discussion\, Q and A and social. \nBook now to be part of it. \nIn 2021\, Scotland finally abolished its blasphemy law—over 300 years after the execution of Thomas Aikenhead\, the Edinburgh student who became the last person in the British Isles to be hanged for blasphemy. Aikenhead’s sacriligious comments were reported to church authorities by fellow students\, five of whom testified against him. In his last moments he wrote: \n“It is a principle innate and co-natural to every man to have an insatiable inclination to the truth\, and to seek for it as for hid treasure.” \nThankfully\, speaking against religious doctrine no longer carries the death penalty in Edinburgh\, however\, Scotland’s blasphemy laws were replaced by the highly-concerning Hate Crime Act which threatens arrest\, fines and imprisonment of those who transgress against more contemporary beliefs. \nThis legislation\, which provoked disbelief around the world and embarrassed freedom-loving Scots\, was opposed by many of the more traditionally religious groups in Scotland\, many of whom feared that their beliefs risked being criminalised. \nReligious campaigners have been highly effective at shaping the public conversation about free speech issues in Scotland\, whether fighting for the rights of street preachers\, advocating for pro-life voices or raising concerns over the free speech impacts of proposed “conversion therapy” laws. \nThe Scottish debate over abortion clinic buffer zones recently went global when US Vice President J.D. Vance claimed that private prayer inside houses near clinics had been criminalized. While the Scottish government disputed Vance’s claim\, his remarks resonated with widespread concerns about the state of free speech in Scotland and in the UK as a whole. \nAre broader principles of tolerance and freedom compatible with a conservative religious worldview? Should atheists today look to Christians to hone their arguments about tolerance\, freedom of conscience and freedom of expression? \nWhether you’re a student\, a member of a faith community\, or simply passionate about human rights\, come along to explore these questions and many others concerning the evolving landscape of free speech and religious freedom in modern Scotland. \nThere will\, of course\, be plenty of time for discussion\, as well as socialising with fellow free speech supporters. \nSPEAKERS \nStephen Allison is the minister of Kiltarlity Free Church and the Public Engagement Coordinator for the Free Church of Scotland. Prior to entering ministry\, he was a practicing solicitor. \nSimon Calvert has been with The Christian Institute since qualifying as a solicitor in 1996. He is a campaigner\, media spokesperson and Parliamentary liaison. \nPeter Kearney is a freelance Media Consultant and former Director of Communications for the Catholic Church in Scotland. \nIn the Chair will be Shereen Benjamin\, Senior Lecturer in Primary Education at the University of Edinburgh. She was a founder member of Edinburgh Academics for Academic Freedom. \nTickets are £5 for FSU members\, £10 for non-members. \nJOIN the FSU to get discounts at all events.
URL:https://freespeechunion.org/event/faith-and-free-speech-in-scotland/
LOCATION:The Counting House\, 38 West Nicolson Street\, Edinburgh\, EH8 9DD\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Regional Speakeasies
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://freespeechunion.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/2025-EventBrite-Thumbnail-2160-x-1080-px-2.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20250430T191500
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20250430T223000
DTSTAMP:20250624T070633
CREATED:20250319T083637Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250319T084018Z
UID:10000105-1746040500-1746052200@freespeechunion.org
SUMMARY:POLICING PRIORITIES: THE FREE SPEECH PERSPECTIVE
DESCRIPTION:POLICING PRIORITIES: THE FREE SPEECH PERSPECTIVE  \nWednesday 30th April  \nThe Counting House\, 34 West Nicolson St\, Newington\, Edinburgh EH8 9DD.  \nPanel debate 7.15pm to 9pm\, (doors open 6.30pm)\, bar open until 10.30pm.  \nCLICK HERE FOR TICKETS \nWhile ‘minor crimes’ like theft\, burglary\, and assault are deprioritised\, resources seem increasingly directed towards monitoring online speech\, recording ‘non-crime hate incidents’\, and enforcing perception-based policing – where an activist’s allegation alone can trigger serious consequences for the accused.  \nA year after police began enforcing the country’s controversial Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act\, what has been the impact on free speech\, policing\, and public trust?  \nDo the police and our legal system make Scotland a fairer\, safer society – or are they the backdrop to a new era of what Scottish writer Ewan Morrison describes as “cute authoritarianism” – a dystopian society in which essential freedoms are sacrificed on our behalf by authorities who claim we require protection from hurt feelings and offence to our identities? What happens to public life when subjective feelings dictate legal consequences? And if Scotland is a testing ground\, is this a glimpse of what awaits the rest of us?  \nJoin us on 30th April 2025 for an unmissable discussion with a panel of experts who know the legal and policing landscape inside out. With us will be: Keith Stewart KC\, Scotland’s former chief lawyer in Whitehall; Neil Hay\, Head of Private Crime at top law firm Levy & McRae; and Calum Steele\, ex-General Secretary of the Scottish Police Federation. The discussion will be chaired by journalist Kapil Summan.  \nPanel debate 7.15pm – 9pm\, (doors open 6.30pm)\, bar open until 10.30pm. There will\, of course\, be plenty of time for discussion\, as well as socialising with fellow free speech supporters.  \nThe FSU returns to The Counting House\, 38 West Nicolson Street\, Edinburgh\, for this panel discussion\, Q and A and social. Book now to be part of it.  \nTickets are £5 for FSU members\, £10 for non-members.  \nJOIN the FSU to get discounts at all events.  \nSPEAKERS:  \nKeith Stewart KC served as Advocate-depute 2002-2009\, as senior Advocate-depute from 2004\, and took silk in 2011. In 2020 he was appointed to the post of Advocate General for Scotland\, being granted a peerage with the title of Lord Stewart of Dirleton. He served until 2024 as one of the UK Government’s three law officers\, in which capacity he provided confidential advice on law\, spoke for the Government on the floor of the House of Lords\, and carried out scrutiny of proposed primary and secondary legislation. Keith instructed a number of cases of constitutional significance relating to the legislative competence of Scottish Parliament legislation. Since then he has resumed private practice at the Bar and continues to serve on the Opposition front bench in the House of Lords.  \nNeil Hay is the Head of Private Crime at renowned legal firm\, Levy & McRae\, Solicitors. He leads a team of lawyers specialising in criminal law\, providing legal advice and court representation for professional and high-profile clients. Neil has practised as a solicitor\, and as a solicitor-advocate\, for a total of nearly thirty years and\, accordingly has wide expertise of Scottish court prosecutions. In 2024\, FSU developed a strategic partnership with Levy & McRae to provide advice to FSU and its members in relation to legal issues such as the Hate Crime Act.  \nCalum Steele is the former General Secretary of the Scottish Police Federation having served in the role for 15 years prior to his retirement in 2023. Calum also served as the General Secretary of the only international confederation of police unions (ICPRA) for 14 years\, and as both Vice-President and President of the European Confederation of Police for 8 years. Amongst other things Calum is now a columnist with the Herald newspaper.  \nCHAIR: Kapil Summan is a journalist based in Edinburgh with more than a decade’s experience covering legal affairs. 
URL:https://freespeechunion.org/event/policing-priorities-the-free-speech-perspective/
LOCATION:The Counting House\, 38 West Nicolson Street\, Edinburgh\, EH8 9DD\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Regional Speakeasies
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://freespeechunion.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/2025-Edinburgh-Speakeasy-EventBrite-Thumbnail-2160-x-1080-px.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20250428T193000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20250428T210000
DTSTAMP:20250624T070633
CREATED:20250325T185915Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250325T185915Z
UID:10000108-1745868600-1745874000@freespeechunion.org
SUMMARY:"Lifeblood of Democracy" - Is Freedom of the Press safe in Keir Starmer’s hands?
DESCRIPTION:“Lifeblood of Democracy” – Is Freedom of the Press safe in Keir Starmer’s hands?\nMonday 28th April\, 2025\nDoors open and welcome drinks from 6.45pm. \nPanel discussion and Q and A\, 7.30pm to 9pm. \nReception to follow\, until 10.30pm. \nPrince Phillip House\, 3 Carlton House Terrace\, London SW1Y 5DG. \nTICKETS: Free Speech Union Members: £12; Non-members: £20; Students: £14.\nIn October 2024\, Sir Keir Starmer declared in the Sun newspaper that “journalism is the lifeblood of democracy and journalists are guardians of “democratic values”. Condemning the use of “SLAPPS”\, or Strategic Litigation Against Public Participations”\, by the rich and powerful to intimidate journalists from their pursuit of the public interest\, he went on to pledge that his government would “always champion Press freedoms”. \nBut to seasoned journalists with longer memories\, these words rang hollow as they recalled the PM’s role in pursuing the prosecution of dozens of British journalists as part of Operation Elveden\, while he was Director of Public Prosecutions. \nOperation Elveden was a knee-jerk response to the phone-hacking scandal which had led to the closure of the News of the World in 2011 and was prompted by news organisations handing over evidence to the Crown Prosecution Service of payments made to sources by their own journalists. The Metropolitan Police staged a wave of dawn raids on journalists’ homes\, made mass arrests and charged 29 journalists with conspiracy to commit misconduct in public office. After five years of investigation and multiple trials\, the longest and costliest investigation in the history of Scotland Yard\, every single journalist walked free. \nThe Free Speech Union is pleased to publish an essay which examines the significance of this unprecedented attack on the freedom of the press and questions whether the PM can really be trusted to defend the Fourth Estate. It is authored by veteran political journalist and stalwart defender of press freedom\, retired Sun political editor Trevor Kavanagh. \nWe will mark its publication with a special event to discuss current threats to press freedom\, featuring Trevor\, journalist Anthony France\, who was one of those prosecuted\, and Sir Geoffrey Cox KC\, former Attorney-General\, who successfully defended Sun deputy editor Geoff Webster during the Elveden trials. In the chair will be FSU General Secretary Toby Young. \nSPEAKERS \nTrevor Kavanagh was the award-winning political editor of The Sun for a quarter of a century. He was present at all key moments of the marathon five-year Elveden fiasco. He witnessed the persecution of innocent journalists on trumped up charges of “conspiracy” – a medieval 13th century statute which the CPS admitted was hard to explain and difficult for juries to understand. He was in court as the trials collapsed\, one after another\, under the scrutiny of the defence counsel and increasingly sceptical Old Bailey judges. And he witnessed the final humiliation of the CPS when its counsel was asked in the Appeal Court by Lord Chief Justice Thomas: “Have you at any stage considered the freedom of the press?” \nAnthony France is Crime Editor at the London Standard and a respected UK and international journalist with 30 years’ experience. He was one of 29 journalists arrested and prosecuted as part of Operation Elveden and one of only three to be convicted. Anthony was eventually acquitted – but not until 18 months later and long after he had completed 400 hours of community service with Oxfam. Along with the other suspects he had spent almost three years on police bail\, a form of pre-trial punishment and harassment. None of the acquitted journalists received an apology from the CPS or the police or any form of compensation for their ordeal. \nSir Geoffrey Cox\, KC\, has been the Conservative member of parliament for Torridge and Tavistock since 2005. He was appointed Attorney General of England and Wales and Advocate General of Northern Ireland by Theresa May in 2018 and was knighted in 2021 for his services. He is among the Bar’s most eloquent and formidable performers and became famous during Parliament’s long and heated battle over Brexit for his impassioned defence of British sovereignty. \nChair: Toby Young (Lord Young of Acton). \nToby Young is a British journalist and campaigner. He is the founder and general secretary of the Free Speech Union\, an associate editor of The Spectator and the editor-in-chief of the Daily Sceptic. He was made a life peer in 2024.
URL:https://freespeechunion.org/event/lifeblood-of-democracy-is-freedom-of-the-press-safe-in-keir-starmers-hands/
LOCATION:Prince Phillip House\, 3 Carlton House Terrace\, London\, SW1Y 5DG\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Public Debates
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://freespeechunion.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/2025-EventBrite-Thumbnail-2160-x-1080-px-1.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20250411T193000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20250411T223000
DTSTAMP:20250624T070633
CREATED:20250217T144656Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250325T195118Z
UID:10000104-1744399800-1744410600@freespeechunion.org
SUMMARY:BELFAST SPEAKEASY: Policing the Streets vs Policing our Tweets
DESCRIPTION:BELFAST SPEAKEASY: Policing the Streets vs Policing our Tweets \nDATE: Friday 11th April\, 2025 \nTIME:   \n6.30pm Doors and bar open.   \n7.30pm to 9pm Panel with Q & A.   \n9pm to 10.30pm Social.  \nVENUE: The Ulster Museum\, Stranmillis Road\, Botanic Gardens\, Belfast\, BT9 5AB  \nTICKETS: £8 for FSU members\, £12 for non-members\, £5 for students  \nJoin us for a lively evening of conversation and debate as the FSU hosts its third Northern Ireland Speakeasy.  \nWe have a panel of three amazing speakers: free speech activist Harry Miller\, journalist and editor of spiked magazine Tom Slater and Belfast-based writer Jenny Holland.  \nHarry Miller is the co-founder of the pressure group Fair Cop and was the first person to shine a light on the problem of the Orwellian-sounding ‘Non-Crime Hate Incidents’ (NCHIs). An NCHI can be logged against an individual’s name and held in police files even though that person has said and done nothing illegal. In Harry’s case\, it was the retweeting of a feminist limerick that led to him being investigated by Humberside Police in 2019. Unfortunately for Humberside Police but fortunately for free speech the police had picked on ‘the wrong guy’. Harry fought back and won two landmark free speech cases at the High Court and the Court of Appeal.   \nIn the High Court ruling\, the judge\, Mr Justice Julian Holmes\, said:  \n“The effect of the police turning up at his place of work because of his political opinions must not be underestimated. To do so would be to undervalue a cardinal democratic freedom. In this country we have never had a Cheka\, a Gestapo or a Stasi. We have never lived in an Orwellian society…the police’s actions\, taken as a whole\, had a chilling effect on his right to freedom of expression.”  \nWhen Harry went on to take the College of Policing to the Court of Appeal in 2021 to challenge their ‘Hate Crime Operational Guidance’\, he won a significant victory for free speech. Thanks to Harry’s persistence\, these judgements can be cited by other free speech campaigners and he has worked tirelessly on behalf of members of the public whose lawful expression has been subject to similar unwanted police attention. He regularly appears in the media\, and writes for The Critic Magazine.  \nTom Slater is the editor of spiked — the magazine that campaigns for freedom of speech\, with no ifs and no buts. He also writes regularly for the Spectator\, has written for the Sun\, the Telegraph and the Sunday Times\, and he appears regularly on TV and radio. Tom is also co-host of the spiked podcast\, a weekly round-up of news and controversy\, and Last Orders\, a podcast all about freedom and the nanny state. Spiked is about to celebrate its twenty-fifth  anniversary and over that period\, it has won a reputation for being the one of the most bold and consistent defenders of free speech.  \nJenny Holland is an Irish-American writer based in Belfast. She spent several years working in mainstream media in the US\, including three years working at the New York Times\, before returning to Northern Ireland. She now writes Saving Culture (from itself) on Substack\, and has written for spiked\, the Critic\, Feminist Current and the Spectator US.  \nCome along on Friday 11th April to hear from our fascinating panel and to have your say.  \n 
URL:https://freespeechunion.org/event/belfast-speakeasy-policing-the-streets-vs-policing-our-tweets/
LOCATION:Ulster Museum\, Stranmillis Road\, Botanic Gardens\, Belfast\, BT9 5AB\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Regional Speakeasies
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://freespeechunion.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/updated-belfast-2025.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20250404T193000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20250404T223000
DTSTAMP:20250624T070633
CREATED:20250319T113644Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250319T115404Z
UID:10000106-1743795000-1743805800@freespeechunion.org
SUMMARY:COMEDY UNLEASHED LEEDS
DESCRIPTION:Comedy Unleashed social nights are monthly in Leeds and Manchester. Free Speech Union supporters can meet up\, chat to like-minded people\, have a drink and enjoy some free-thinking comedy. Comedy Unleashed book comedians who have been cancelled and comics who go against the grain. On Friday 4th April\, come and see Leo Kearse\, Darius Davies\, Elaine Miller\, Intel Lady and MC Bruce Devlin. Free Speech Union Members and Supporters can get a 10% discount on tickets by entering the promo code FreeSpeech.
URL:https://freespeechunion.org/event/comedy-unleashed-leeds-3/
LOCATION:The Hi-Fi Club\, Leeds 2 Central Road\, Leeds\, LS1 6DE
CATEGORIES:Live Comedy Specials,Partner Event
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/avif:https://freespeechunion.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/leeds-cu.avif
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20250403T190000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20250403T220000
DTSTAMP:20250624T070633
CREATED:20250319T114940Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250319T114940Z
UID:10000107-1743706800-1743717600@freespeechunion.org
SUMMARY:COMEDY UNLEASHED MANCHESTER
DESCRIPTION:Comedy Unleashed social nights are monthly in Manchester and Leeds. Free Speech Union supporters can meet up\, chat to like-minded people\, have a drink and enjoy some free-thinking comedy. Comedy Unleashed book comedians who have been cancelled and comics who go against the grain. On Thursday 3rd April\, come and see Leo Kearse\, Darius Davies\, Mags McHugh and MC Bruce Devlin. Free Speech Union Members and Supporters can get a 10% discount on tickets by entering the promo code FreeSpeech.
URL:https://freespeechunion.org/event/comedy-unleashed-manchester-4/
LOCATION:Lloyd Street Bar\, Lloyd Street Bar\, 22 Lloyd Street\, Manchester\, M2 5WA\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Live Comedy Specials,Partner Event
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/avif:https://freespeechunion.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/manchester-cu.avif
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20250319T193000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20250319T210000
DTSTAMP:20250624T070633
CREATED:20250131T113904Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250131T113904Z
UID:10000102-1742412600-1742418000@freespeechunion.org
SUMMARY:FROM FAITH TO FAITHLESS: WHY FREE SPEECH IS ESSENTIAL FOR APOSTATES
DESCRIPTION:FROM FAITH TO FAITHLESS: WHY FREE SPEECH IS ESSENTIAL FOR APOSTATES  \nWednesday 19th March\, 7.30pm until 9pm\, followed by a drinks reception \nFree Speech Union in partnership with Faith to Faithless  \nIN-PERSON: Central London location\, W1. Precise details will be provided when ticket is purchased.  \nIN-PERSON TICKETS VIA EVENTBRITE \nONLINE: FSU Members and Faith to Faithless contacts can join free of charge using the link provided in via email.  \nSpeakers  \nTerri O’Sullivan\, Apostate Services Development Officer for Faith to Faithless\, a service of Humanists UK which supports people who have left high-control religious groups  \nKhadija Khan is a journalist and broadcaster. She is an editor at Canadian Magazine A Further Inquiry and a co-host of A Further Inquiry podcast.  \nDr Benjamin Jones is the Director of Case Management at the Free Speech Union and completed his PhD on the experiences of ex-Muslims in Britain.  \n  \nThis event focuses on the experiences of individuals who leave high-control religions or cults — whether they are ex-Muslims\, ex-Jehovah’s Witnesses\, ex-Evangelicals\, ex-Mormons\, ex-Scientologists\, or have left an Ultra Orthodox Jewish sect. Leaving a religion can be a complicated\, challenging and dangerous process. Apostates can be shunned and sometimes completely disowned from immediate family\, relatives\, and the community at large. The right to not believe is a fundamental human right and yet apostates can often experience real threats to their rights of freedom of speech\, belief and association\, and some will be subject to violence.  \nThe protections needed by apostates are under threat in myriad ways: the proliferation of loosely drafted hate speech laws in western countries\, calls to end online anonymity — a much-needed protection for apostates to communicate with others outside their community\, and unthinking algorithmic censorship of social media platforms. The Free Speech Union is especially concerned by the most dangerous threat on the horizon for ex-Muslims (and many other people besides) in the definition of ‘Islamophobia’ being advanced by the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on British Muslims. This definition\, among other things\, brands as Islamophobic anyone who makes “mendacious\, dehumanizing\, demonizing\, or stereotypical allegations about Muslims”. This could lead to apostates being even less free to tell their stories.  \nThe Free Speech Union is hosting this event in partnership with Faith to Faithless\, a groundbreaking support service run by Humanists UK that includes a helpline dedicated to supporting people who have left high-control religious groups. The helpline\, operating three days a week and staffed by trained volunteers\, offers bespoke assistance\, resources\, and empathetic support to a diverse group\, including ex-Muslims\, ex-Jehovah’s Witnesses\, ex-evangelicals\, and ex-Mormons. It aims to bridge the gap in understanding and support for apostates\, providing a crucial lifeline for those navigating the complexities of leaving high-control religious environments.  \nOur speakers reflect a broad range of expertise and direct experience and there will be plenty of time for audience Q and A.  \nJoin us on Wednesday 19th March for this important discussion. In-person tickets can be purchased via Eventbrite and include a drinks reception after the event.  \nOnline attendance is offered free of charge to Free Speech Union members and to those engaged with Faith to Faithless (the link will be provided via emails from these organisations).  \n  \nSPEAKERS  \nTerri O’Sullivan is the Apostate Services Development Officer for Faith to Faithless\, a service of Humanists UK which supports people who have left high-control religious groups. She was raised as a Jehovah’s Witness which she left at the age of 21 resulting in her becoming homeless for a short while. Terri went on to set up a support group for former Jehovah’s Witnesses in 2007 called XJW Friends\, and joined the leadership team of Faith to Faithless in 2015. She completed her degree in social psychology at the University of Kent and conducted research into the long-term effects of ostracism from a religious community. She continued this line of research at Tilburg University in the Netherlands in her master’s degree and studied the relationship between religious fundamentalism and ostracism.  \nKhadija Khan is a journalist and broadcaster. She is an editor at Canadian Magazine A Further Inquiry and a co-host of A Further Inquiry podcast. She advocates for women’s rights and denounces the idea of Islamic feminism. She is an ardent advocate for secularism\, free speech\, and universal human rights. She criticises the use of blasphemy laws as a tool to crack down on dissent and supports freedom of and from religion. She stresses the need for freedom of speech to counter extremist ideologies.  \nDr Benjamin Jones is the Director of Case Management at the Free Speech Union. His day job is to stop FSU members from being cancelled. He appears regularly in the media commentating on free speech issues. He completed his PhD at the University of Warwick on the experiences of ex-Muslims in Britain. His research was part-funded by the National Secular Society.  \nIn the chair will be Dr Jan Macvarish. Jan is Education and Events Director of the Free Speech Union. Before joining the staff of the FSU\, she worked as an academic sociologist\, studying parenting\, family life\, intimacy and reproductive health.  \n  \nTICKETS: FSU Members £10 / Non-members £15 / Age 25s and under £12. 
URL:https://freespeechunion.org/event/from-faith-to-faithless-why-free-speech-is-essential-for-apostates/
LOCATION:Central London: Venue details provided on purchase.
CATEGORIES:Partner Event
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://freespeechunion.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Heading.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20250212T193000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20250212T223000
DTSTAMP:20250624T070633
CREATED:20241219T201123Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241224T122339Z
UID:10000098-1739388600-1739399400@freespeechunion.org
SUMMARY:THE BIG BILL OF RIGHTS DEBATE
DESCRIPTION:FSU DEBATE \nLondon and Online \nWEDNESDAY 12th FEBRUARY\, 7.30pm\nTHE BIG BILL OF RIGHTS DEBATE: \nA UK Bill of Rights Would Not Protect Free Speech\nCavendish Conference Centre\, 22 Duchess Mews\, W1G 9DT \nTICKETS \nWith Professor JAMES ALLAN and PRESTON BYRNE \nMany free speech enthusiasts envy the USA’s First Amendment. Passed in 1791\, this foundation stone of the Constitution enshrines as a ‘primary value’ that ‘Congress shall make no law… abridging the freedom of speech or of the press’. This simple clarity has acquired great historical and patriotic significance and those concerned about Britain’s free speech crisis often crave such a foundational protection against each new encroachment on our right to free expression. \nHowever\, there are plenty of sceptics who argue that constitutional reform over here would not shore up the defence of free speech. Rather\, they argue\, we should reinforce the principles of English common law whereby that which is not expressly illegal\, is a freedom to be enjoyed by each individual. Giving greater power to judges\, lawyers and courts\, they say\, is disempowering of us\, the demos. \nAt The Big Bill of Rights Debate\, we bring together two speakers who take opposing views on a UK Bill of Rights. \nABOUT THE SPEAKERS \nJames Allan is Garrick Professor of Law at The University of Queensland\, with special interest in legal and moral philosophy\, constitutional law and bills of rights. He has previously taught in New Zealand\, the USA and Hong Kong\, but was born in Canada and practised law in Toronto and in London. Professor Allan he is opposed to bills of rights and has been actively involved in the efforts trying to stop one from being enacted in Australia. He sets out his stall in his latest book\, The age of foolishness: a doubter’s guide to constitutionalism in a modern democracy (published 2022). He also writes for The Australian\, The Spectator Australia\, Quadrant and the Daily Sceptic. \nPreston Byrne is a Senior Fellow of the Adam Smith Institute\, Adjunct Professor at Fordham Law School and Managing Partner of Byrne & Storm\, P.C. He has advised Internet and social media companies on global free speech and censorship issues since 2018. In 2020\, he wrote a paper for the Adam Smith Institute\, Sense and Sensitivity: Restoring Free Speech in the United Kingdom\, and a draft law\, the UK Free Speech Act\, which would create a First Amendment-style free speech right for the UK. He is dual-qualified in England and the United States. \n————— \nIN-PERSON TICKETS: FSU members £10. Non-FSU Members £15. Aged 25 and under £12. Ticket plus donation to the FSU £25. \nTicket-holders only – NO NEED TO PRINT TICKETS\, WE’LL HAVE A LIST OF REGISTRANTS. \nOnline attendance is free to FSU members. Please register using the Zoom link supplied in FSU emails. \nThe Free Speech Union is a non-partisan\, mass membership public interest body that stands up for the speech rights of its members. Find out more here.
URL:https://freespeechunion.org/event/the-big-bill-of-rights-debate/
LOCATION:Cavendish Conference Centre\, 22 Duchess Mews\, London\, London\, W1G 9DT\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Public Debates
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://freespeechunion.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/LIONEL-SHRIVER-2160-x-1080-px-YouTube-Thumbnail-2.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20250201T183000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20250201T223000
DTSTAMP:20250624T070633
CREATED:20241219T191905Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250110T082158Z
UID:10000100-1738434600-1738449000@freespeechunion.org
SUMMARY:THE NEW THREATS TO FREE SPEECH: Warnings from the Beautiful Game
DESCRIPTION:THE NEW THREATS TO FREE SPEECH: Warnings from the Beautiful Game\nDATE: Saturday 1st February\, 2025 \nTIME: Doors and bar open 6.30pm. Speakers and Q and A at 7.00pm with social from 8.30pm. Ends 10.30pm. \nVENUE: The Hacienda Suite\, Holiday Inn City Centre Manchester\, 25 Aytoun St\, M1 3DT. \nTICKETS: £8 for FSU members\, £12 for non-members\, £5 for students. \nSPEAKERS: \nBaroness Claire Fox \nLinzi Smith \nJoey Barton \nChair: Toby Young \nA timely discussion about the new threats to free speech being pioneered within the beautiful game. \nFootball fans have long been subjected to the most draconian legal controls\, not just on the hooligan-like behaviour of the few\, but on the freedom of association and freedom of speech of the many. In recent years\, the institutions that run football have become as captured by ‘woke’ ideology as many others\, leading to numerous players and fans falling foul of ‘equality\, diversity and inclusion’ policies. At all levels from the game\, from elite to amateur\, people are being silenced and excluded from the game they love. \nThe worst example we’ve seen is that of Free Speech Union member Linzi Smith. Linzi has been banned from attending Newcastle United games until 2026 because of views she expressed on social media about the biological reality of sex. In the course of defending her\, the Free Speech Union discovered that Linzi’s social media activity had been monitored by a surveillance unit embedded in the Premier League and we fear that what happened to her isn’t a one-off incident – it may be part of a wider trend affecting thousands of fans. \nIt’s not just football fans like Linzi who have fallen foul of football’s authorities. Professional players also risk getting into trouble for their beliefs. Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi feared investigation by the F.A. because he added the statement ‘I love Jesus’ on a rainbow armband that he was obliged to wear. Other players in the UK have had to justify not wearing Stonewall-inspired clothing by arguing that it clashed with their religious beliefs. This comes on the back of ‘taking the knee’ alienating many fans who object to the politicisation of their game and the increasing amount of virtue-signalling at the higher levels of the sport. \nEven amateur players have been affected by heavy-handed authorities. The Free Speech Union is also helping a 17-year-old female footballer appeal against a six-match ban\, imposed as punishment for asking a transgender player with a beard playing in an opposing women’s team\, ‘Are you a man?’.\nMeanwhile\, the Football Governance Bill\, currently being debated in Parliament\, threatens to impose more systematically\, homogenous beliefs throughout the national sport by making EDI mandatory for clubs and threatening players and fans with compliance to values they may not share. It has been repeatedly and effectively challenged in the House of Lords by Baroness Claire Fox. \nWhether or not you’re a sports fan\, the conversation will be fascinating\, and there will be plenty of time for Q and A and audience discussion. So\, come along\, have your say\, and meet other free speech enthusiasts from the North West region. \nABOUT THE SPEAKERS: \nLinzi Smith is a member of the Free Speech Union\, an LGB advocate and a lifelong supporter of Newcastle United football club. She was banned from Newcastle United and subjected to a sinister private investigation because of posts she made on social media in support of her belief that biological sex is important and real. \nJoey Barton is a former professional footballer who has represented England and been a pivotal player for Manchester City\, Newcastle United\, Queens Park Rangers\, Marseille\, Burnley and Glasgow Rangers. He went on to manage Fleetwood Town F.C. and Bristol Rovers. He was a controversial player\, with a reputation for violence\, but he is equally well-known for his outspokenness and the attempts made by celebrities\, the courts and even government ministers\, to silence him. \nClaire Fox is the director of the Academy of Ideas\, which she established to create a public space where ideas can be contested without constraint. She convenes the yearly Battle of Ideas festival and initiated the Debating Matters Competition for sixth-formers. \nIn May 2019\, she was elected as an MEP for the North West England constituency of the UK in the European Parliament elections and in September 2020\, Claire became a member of the House of Lords as Baroness Fox of Buckley. \nShe is author of two books on free speech\, I Find That Offensive! and I STILL Find That Offensive! \nCLICK HERE FOR TICKETS. \nJOIN the FSU to get discounts at all events. \nMembers receive free speech support and discounts for live events as well as exclusive access to online content\, so do consider joining the Free Speech Union.
URL:https://freespeechunion.org/event/football-and-free-speech/
LOCATION:Holiday Inn Central Manchester\, 25 Aytoun Street\, Manche
CATEGORIES:Regional Speakeasies
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://freespeechunion.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Barton-included-Football.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20250122T193000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20250122T220000
DTSTAMP:20250624T070633
CREATED:20241031T112323Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250110T154903Z
UID:10000094-1737574200-1737583200@freespeechunion.org
SUMMARY:Liverpool Speakeasy with Toby Young
DESCRIPTION:FSU Liverpool Speakeasy\nOUR NEW MASTERS AND WHY THEY DISLIKE FREE SPEECH\nwith FSU General Secretary Toby Young \nWednesday 22nd January \nThe Athenaeum\, Church Alley\, Liverpool L1 3DD. \nDoors open 6pm for informal drinks with Toby Young\, formal event begins 7.30pm\, social from 8.30pm until 9.30pm. \nJoin us for our first Liverpool Speakeasy and hear FSU founder and General Secretary Toby Young share his assessment of why free speech is in such great peril. \nThere will\, of course\, be plenty of time for discussion\, as well as socialising with fellow free speech supporters. Please invite your family\, friends and colleagues – speakeasies are an excellent way of introducing them to the work of the FSU. \nTickets are £10 for FSU members\, £15 for non-members. \nJOIN the FSU to get discounts at all events. \nAbout our speakers: \nToby Young is founder and general secretary of the Free Speech Union\, a non-partisan\, mass membership public interest body that stands up for the speech rights of its members. He co-founded four schools and a multi-academy trust in West London\, served as a Fulbright Commissioner and is the author of four books\, the best known of which is How to Lose Friends & Alienate People (2001). He is an associate editor of the Spectator\, where he’s written a weekly column since 1998\, and Editor-in-Chief of the Daily Sceptic.
URL:https://freespeechunion.org/event/liverpool-speakeasy-with-toby-young/
LOCATION:The Athenaeum\, Liverpool\, Church Alley\, Liverpool\, L1 3DD\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Regional Speakeasies
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://freespeechunion.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/LIONEL-SHRIVER-2160-x-1080-px-YouTube-Thumbnail-1.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20250120T193000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20250120T223000
DTSTAMP:20250624T070633
CREATED:20250106T143528Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250106T143528Z
UID:10000101-1737401400-1737412200@freespeechunion.org
SUMMARY:Comedy\, Controversy\, Bravery and Vindication
DESCRIPTION:Comedy\, Controversy\, Bravery and Vindication\nA farewell evening with GRAHAM LINEHAN as he leaves us for the USA\nMonday 20th January\, 7.30pm (doors open 6.45pm)  \nLola’s Bar\, Lower Ground Floor\, The Hippodrome\, Main Entrance\, London WC2H 7JH  \nHaving cut his teeth in music journalism\, Graham Linehan became the finest sitcom writer of his generation. He captured the comedy zeitgeist not just as the co-creator of Father Ted but also with The IT Crowd and Black Books\, winning five Baftas and a lifetime achievement award.  \nThen his life took an unexpected turn. When he championed an unfashionable cause\, TV commissioners no longer returned his emails\, showbiz pals lost his number and his marriage collapsed. With only a few notable exceptions\, the entertainment industry turned their back on him and he was treated as someone who had lost his mind or ‘disappeared down the rabbit hole’ of the trans debate.  \nBut Graham fought on and his dogged campaigning\, alongside many others who also paid a high price for their willingness to speak the truth\, has begun to turn the tide of gender ideology.  \nHe is now heading to the USA to work on a sitcom project with Andrew Doyle\, so join us to give him a special FSU send-off.  \nThere will\, of course\, be plenty of time for audience Q and A.  \nThere will be a book-signing and social after the formal part of the evening.  \nIn-person tickets:  \n£10 for FSU members.  \n£15 for members of the public.  \nBuy a copy of Graham’s book\, Tough Crowd: How I Made and Lost a Career in Comedy\, at checkout for just £15 to pick up on the night.  \n  \nOnline tickets for non-members \nIf you can’t make it to London\, you can join online for £5. (FSU members can join free of charge\, using the link provided in FSU emails).  \n  \nSPECIAL DINING OFFER  \nThe Hippodrome invites you to enjoy a meal before or after the event at one of its restaurants. Show your confirmation email to staff to receive a 25% discount at Chop Chop or the Heliot Steakhouse. Both are rated ‘exceptional’ on Opentable\, with Heliot considered one of London’s very best steakhouses and Chop Chop by Four Seasons already hailed as one of the West End’s best Chinese restaurants only a year after launch. Please book here for Chop Chop or here for Heliot then show your confirmation email when you arrive at the restaurant. (Offer eligible only on Monday 20th January 2025.)  \n 
URL:https://freespeechunion.org/event/comedy-controversy-bravery-and-vindication/
LOCATION:Hippodrome\, London\, Little Newport Street\, London\, WC2H 7JH\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Guest Interviews
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://freespeechunion.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/graham-graphic.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20241217T193000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20241217T223000
DTSTAMP:20250624T070633
CREATED:20241011T114630Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241128T151003Z
UID:10000089-1734463800-1734474600@freespeechunion.org
SUMMARY:FREE SPEECH UNION CHRISTMAS COMEDY SPECIAL 2024
DESCRIPTION:The FSU Christmas Comedy Special\nTuesday 17th December\, doors open 6.30pm\, please arrive by 7pm\, show starts 7.30pm. \nBackyard Comedy Club\, Bethnal Green\, London \nRound up your comedy-loving friends and family for The FSU Christmas Special\, a one night only extravaganza of comedy with a fabulous line-up. \nIn association with Comedy Unleashed – the home of free-thinking comedy. \nOur Master of Ceremonies for the evening is FSU favourite\, Dominic Frisby. Dominic will be joined on stage by Adam Bloom\, Scott Capurro\, Jonathan Kogan and Nicholas De Santo. We are delighted to announce a special guest appearance from deputy prime minister\, proud northerner and Basic Instinct enthusiast “Angela Rayner” (otherwise known as @IntelLady). \nJoin the fun with the FSU team and helps us raise funds to defend freedom of speech. \nORDER YOUR CHRISTMAS GIFTS FROM THE FSU’S SHOP! \nTickets HERE \n£20 FSU member full price / £15 FSU member concessions \n£25 non-member full price / £20 non-member concessions \nRefunds issued on a case-by-case basis. \nBackyard Comedy Club is only a 2-minute walk from Bethnal Green tube (Central line)\, 10 minutes from Whitechapel (District line\, Hammersmith & City line\, London Overground). Five minute walk from Cambridge Heath and Bethnal Green Overground stations. \nBUS ROUTES \n254\, 106 & N253 – Outside Venue \n8\, 309\, 388\, D3\, D6 & N8 – 5 min walk \n25\, 26\, 48\, 55\, N26 & N55 – 10 min walk \nPARKING: \nStreet parking is available on Cambridge Heath Rd. (Pay & Display before 6.30pm) \nSAT NAV: \nUse – ‘Witan St’\, Bethnal Green\, London. E2
URL:https://freespeechunion.org/event/the-free-speech-union-christmas-special-2024/
LOCATION:The Backyard Comedy Club\, 231 Cambridge Heath Rd\, London\, E2 0EL\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Live Comedy Specials
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://freespeechunion.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Latest-Comedy-Graphic-Rayner-scaled.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20241210T190000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20241210T200000
DTSTAMP:20250624T070633
CREATED:20241031T091244Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241031T103144Z
UID:10000095-1733857200-1733860800@freespeechunion.org
SUMMARY:Online Christmas Review
DESCRIPTION:We hope you will join us on Tuesday 10th December for our annual Christmas Review\, when we meet to vote on 2024’s free speech heroes and villains and discuss the free speech year’s highs and lows. FSU staff will introduce their nominees and then we’ll take a vote. Bring a glass of something festive so that we can toast the end of another successful year of standing up for free speech.   \nThe event starts at 7pm and will end by 8pm. Register using the link in the weekly newsletter.
URL:https://freespeechunion.org/event/online-christmas-review-2/
LOCATION:Online Event: Zoom
CATEGORIES:Online Event
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://freespeechunion.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/New-Events-2024-Template-1.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20241205T190000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20241205T223000
DTSTAMP:20250624T070633
CREATED:20241016T191147Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241016T191228Z
UID:10000093-1733425200-1733437800@freespeechunion.org
SUMMARY:COMEDY UNLEASHED EDINBURGH
DESCRIPTION:Comedy Unleashed are launching a regular social comedy night in Edinburgh\, following the sell-out Hate Crime Special\, earlier this year and their cancellation at the Edinburgh Fringe festival. They have a wonderful venue\, with cheap drinks\, a large carpark and a supportive management and they want the night to become a regular get together for supporters of the Free Speech Union. 10% off to Free Speech Union supporters (use the code provided in FSU newsletters to unlock the discount).
URL:https://freespeechunion.org/event/comedy-unleashed-edinburgh/
LOCATION:BMC Social Club\, Edinburgh\, 13 Westfield Street\, Edinburgh\, EH11 2QY\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Live Comedy Specials
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://freespeechunion.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/edinburgh-comedy.jpeg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20241126T190000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20241126T200000
DTSTAMP:20250624T070633
CREATED:20241031T164012Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241031T164012Z
UID:10000096-1732647600-1732651200@freespeechunion.org
SUMMARY:Annual Convention 2024
DESCRIPTION:ANNUAL CONVENTION – EXCLUSIVE TO GOLD AND FOUNDER MEMBERS OF THE FSU \nTuesday 26th November\, 7pm \nThe Convention affords Toby Young and colleagues the opportunity to thank members for their support and to discuss the FSU’s development and future plans. \nGold and Founder members will be sent an email inviting them to join the event online. If you do not receive this\, please email Events@FreeSpeechUnion.org
URL:https://freespeechunion.org/event/annual-convention-2024/
LOCATION:Online Event: Zoom
CATEGORIES:Online Event
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://freespeechunion.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/ANNUAL-CONVENTION-2024.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20241104T193000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20241104T210000
DTSTAMP:20250624T070633
CREATED:20241015T114551Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241031T162002Z
UID:10000092-1730748600-1730754000@freespeechunion.org
SUMMARY:SHOULD BARRISTERS ADOPT A DUTY TO PROMOTE EQUALITY\, DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION?
DESCRIPTION:SPECIALIST EVENT\, BY INVITATION ONLY. The event will be filmed and a video made available for general viewing after the event. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n  \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nSHOULD BARRISTERS ADOPT A POSITIVE DUTY TO PROMOTE EQUALITY\, DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION?\nMONDAY 4TH NOVEMBER\, 2024 \nDoors open 7.00pm\, panel event starts at 7.30pm\, ends 9.00pm. Followed by wine reception. \nTo attend\, please register using the link provided in the invitation email. \nThe Bar Standards Board (BSB) has launched a public consultation on new rules to promote equality\, diversity and inclusion (EDI) at the Bar. If adopted\, barristers would be obliged to ‘act in a way that advances equality\, diversity\, and inclusion’ when providing legal services and the BSB would assume what it describes as an ‘outcomes focused’ approach to equality. \nOn Monday 4th November\, the Free Speech Union will host a panel of eminent legal experts to grapple with the merits of the Bar Standards Board’s proposals. While ‘equality’\, ‘diversity’ and ‘inclusion’ appear to be concepts worthy of general support\, there is still much to debate about what they mean and whether ‘EDI’ is an appropriate framework for the governance of institutions and professions. \nConcerned barristers have asked us to hold the event to discuss the consequences of changing the core duty that they ‘should not unlawfully discriminate’ to a positive duty to advance a set of values that are highly contested. When similar EDI initiatives have been considered elsewhere\, they have been challenged on the grounds that they risk introducing compelled speech and thought. \nLord Ken Macdonald KC \nFormer Director of Public Prosecutions Ken Macdonald is one of the country’s leading criminal\, regulatory and international lawyers. In 2007 he was knighted for services to the law and in 2010 appointed to the House of Lords\, where he sits as a crossbencher. He was a Visiting Professor of Law at the London School of Economics from 2009-2012 and he has been a member of the University of Oxford Law Faculty since 2012. He is Chair of the Orwell Foundation\, President of the Howard League for Penal Reform and was Warden of Wadham College Oxford from 2012 to 2021. \nPoornima Karunacadacharan \nPoornima Karunacadacharan is the Policy Manager for Equality and Access to Justice at the BSB. She has been leading on the drafting of the Equality Rules\, as well as ensuring equality\, diversity\, and inclusion is embedded in all areas of BSB regulation. She has over 20 years of experience working in the charity sector and as a consultant for public sector organisations on equality and human rights issues. Poornima has expertise in training public\, private\, and voluntary sector organisations on the Equality Act 2010 and the Public Sector Equality Duty. \nAkua Reindorf KC \nAkua Reindorf KC is a barrister at Cloisters Chambers specialising in employment\, discrimination and human rights law. She is instructed in high-profile trials and investigations involving polarising and contested identity and equality issues\, serious harassment\, and freedom of speech and belief. She is the author of the ‘Reindorf Report’\, an investigation into the alleged no-platforming of two gender-critical external speakers by the University of Essex. She has particular expertise in the higher-education sector and works at the interface between university governance and regulation\, duties in equality law\, public-sector duties\, academic freedom and fundamental rights. \nAkua was the Legal Business Awards Barrister of the Year in 2023 and the Chambers UK Bar Awards Employment Junior of the Year in 2022. She is a visiting senior fellow at LSE Law School\, where she focuses on the law of academic freedom and freedom of speech. She is a commissioner of the Equality and Human Rights Commission and a fee-paid employment judge. \nLisa D.S. Bildy\, JD\, BA \nLisa Bildy graduated from Western Law School in 1993. In 2017 she launched a campaign to challenge the Law Society of Ontario’s compelled Statement of Principles\, believing it was not for a regulator to dictate lawyers’ personal principles. Known as StopSOP\, the campaign succeeded in getting elected to the Law Society a slate of lawyers who were committed to repealing this new requirement. She then worked at the Calgary-based Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms as a staff lawyer\, beginning in 2019\, before striking out on her own in the fall of 2021 to further the cause of defending civil liberties and individual freedoms in Canada. Lisa is a member of the Board of Advisors of FAIR\, the Foundation Against Intolerance and Racism\, and is an elected bencher (governor) of the Law Society of Ontario. \nCHAIR: Bryn Harris \nBryn Harris has worked as chief legal counsel of the Free Speech Union since 2020\, participating in some of the UK’s foremost legal cases and policy debates concerning freedom of speech. He was called to the Bar of England and Wales in 2018\, and before that he did a doctorate in classics at the University of Oxford. He has a particular interest in the law and practice surrounding academic freedom of speech. \nThe event will be filmed and a video made available for general viewing after the event. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n 
URL:https://freespeechunion.org/event/should-barristers-adopt-a-duty-to-promote-equality-diversity-and-inclusion/
LOCATION:London
CATEGORIES:Conferences & Symposiums
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://freespeechunion.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Screenshot-2024-10-31-at-11.27.13.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20241101T190000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20241101T223000
DTSTAMP:20250624T070633
CREATED:20241015T112446Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241016T185629Z
UID:10000090-1730487600-1730500200@freespeechunion.org
SUMMARY:COMEDY UNLEASHED LEEDS
DESCRIPTION:Comedy Unleashed social nights are monthly in Manchester and Leeds. Free Speech Union supporters can meet up\, chat to like-minded people\, have a drink and enjoy some free-thinking comedy. Comedy Unleashed book comedians who have been cancelled and comics who go against the grain and they offer 10% off to Free Speech Union members (use the code provided in FSU newsletters to unlock the discount).
URL:https://freespeechunion.org/event/comedy-unleashed-leeds-2/
LOCATION:The Hi-Fi Club\, Leeds 2 Central Road\, Leeds\, LS1 6DE
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/avif:https://freespeechunion.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Leeds.avif
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20241031T190000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20241031T223000
DTSTAMP:20250624T070633
CREATED:20241015T112713Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241016T185727Z
UID:10000091-1730401200-1730413800@freespeechunion.org
SUMMARY:COMEDY UNLEASHED MANCHESTER
DESCRIPTION:Comedy Unleashed social nights are monthly in Manchester and Leeds. Free Speech Union supporters can meet up\, chat to like-minded people\, have a drink and enjoy some free-thinking comedy. Comedy Unleashed book comedians who have been cancelled and comics who go against the grain and they offer 10% off to Free Speech Union members (use the code provided in FSU newsletters to unlock the discount).
URL:https://freespeechunion.org/event/comedy-unleashed-manchester-3/
LOCATION:Lloyd Street Bar\, Lloyd Street Bar\, 22 Lloyd Street\, Manchester\, M2 5WA\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Live Comedy Specials
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/avif:https://freespeechunion.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/MANCHESTER-CU.avif
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20241014T193000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20241014T223000
DTSTAMP:20250624T070633
CREATED:20240823T111743Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240905T123317Z
UID:10000086-1728934200-1728945000@freespeechunion.org
SUMMARY:HOUNDED OUT: DOES PUBLISHING HAVE A FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION PROBLEM?
DESCRIPTION:FSU BOOK LAUNCH\nHounded Out: Does Publishing Have a Freedom of Expression Problem?\nMonday 14th October\, 7.30pm \nLola’s Bar\, Lower Ground Floor\, The Hippodrome Casino\, Main Entrance\, London WC2H 7JH \nSPEAKERS: \nJenny Lindsay\, poet and essayist \nKate Clanchy\, author \nMatthew Hamilton\, literary agent \n  \n“There is more than one way to burn a book. And the world is full of people running about with lit matches”. Ray Bradbury\, 1979 \nFor the past 35 years\, the fatwa against Salman Rushdie and the eventual murderous attack it inspired have served as the ultimate warning to authors. Such extreme threats to the safety of writers have not gone away but as Bradbury realised\, literary censorship can take many forms. Our highest profile children’s author\, J.K. Rowling\, has had her books boycotted and even burned not by regimes but by readers. \nAnd there seems to be a problem within the publishing industry itself. Authors report the subjection of their manuscripts to oversight by sensitivity readers; publishers resile from contracts when controversy arises; grant-giving bodies withdraw support when recipients speak out of line; booksellers\, shop staff and librarians have refused to stock or display books with which they disagree; authors are no-platformed from literary festivals and literary societies which are supposed to defend authors have turned against them. \nA new book by award-winning poet and essayist Jenny Lindsay offers a detailed account of the culture of ‘hounding’ that those accused of holding heretical beliefs have experienced\, many of them writers and including herself.  Hounded: Women\, Harms and the Gender Wars is described by academic Professor Sarah Pedersen as ‘an excellent and profoundly angering analysis’ and by philosopher Kathleen Stock\, who really was ‘hounded out’ of academia\, as a ‘shocking compendium’. \nJoin us to hear Jenny Lindsay discuss the issues in the publishing world with literary agent Matthew Hamilton and Orwell prize-winning  author Kate Clanchy. \nMatthew has gone to bat for numerous fiction and non-fiction authors who have been threatened with cancellation and is on the Free Speech Union’s Writers’ Advisory Council. In 2021\, Kate Clanchy notoriously had her contract ended by her publisher of 25 years\, Picador\, after online reviewers accused her bestselling teaching memoir Some Kids I Taught and What They Taught Me of ‘racism’ and ‘ableism’. Despite the support of many of the former pupils described in the book\, all her works were de-published\, in a case which sent concerned waves throughout the publishing world. \nThere will\, of course\, be plenty of time for audience Q and A. \nThe discussion will be followed by a book-signing and social. \nAbout our speakers: \nJenny Lindsay is a poet\, performer and essayist based in Scotland. A formerly celebrated and award-winning producer of live literature events in Scotland\, she is also the author of two full-length and two pamphlet poetry collections\, two poetry/ theatre stage-shows\, and has produced commissioned work across poetry\, prose\, and theatre for numerous publications and institutions including The Dark Horse\, the Edinburgh International Book Festival\, the Irish Pages and the Daily Mail. Her film-poem The Imagined We won the inaugural John Byrne Award for Critical Thinking in 2020. Hounded is her debut non-fiction book. \nKate Clanchy was first published by Picador in 1996. In the following 25 years she won a Forward Prize for Poetry\, a Somerset Maugham and Saltire Award\, the National Short Story Prize and  VS Pritchett Award\, the Writer’s Guild Award and Orwell Prize among many others. In 2018 Picador published England\, Poems from a School\, an anthology of her school pupils’ poetry\, to great acclaim. In 2021 Picador apologised  for ‘the emotional anguish experienced’ by people reading her best-selling teaching memoir\, Some Kids I Taught and What They Taught Me\, and subsequently depublished all her books. Kate is currently working out why and enjoying the experience of being published by Swift Press. \nMatthew Hamilton is a literary agent and the founder of the Hamilton Agency which represents serious and popular non-fiction\, with a particular interest in political writing from across the ideological spectrum\, music\, literary memoir\, biography\, football and entertainment. Recent bestsellers include The War on the West by Douglas Murray\, Colonialism: A Moral Reckoning by Nigel Biggar\, An Immigrant’s Love Letter To The West by Konstantin Kisin and The New Puritans by Andrew Doyle. \nIn-person tickets: \n£10 for FSU members. \n£15 for members of the public. \nPre-order HOUNDED: Women\, Harms and the Gender Wars by Jenny Lindsay for only £10.50 at check-out\, for collection and signing on the night or order it to be delivered (UK only)for £14.50 using this link [to be added after 27/08/2024]. \nOnline tickets: (NON FSU MEMBERS) \nIf you can’t make it to London\, you can join online for £5. (FSU members can join free of charge\, using the link provided in FSU emails). You can order the book for UK delivery here. \nSPECIAL DINING OFFER \nThe Hippodrome invites you to enjoy a meal before or after the event at one of its restaurants. Show your confirmation email to staff to receive a 25% discount at Chop Chop or the Heliot Steakhouse. Both are rated ‘exceptional’ on Opentable\, with Heliot considered one of London’s very best steakhouses and Chop Chop by Four Seasons already hailed as one of the West End’s best Chinese restaurants only a year after launch. Please book here for Chop Chop or here for Heliot then show your confirmation email when you arrive at the restaurant. (Offer eligible only on Monday 14th October 2024.)
URL:https://freespeechunion.org/event/hounded-out-does-publishing-have-a-freedom-of-expression-problem/
LOCATION:Hippodrome\, London\, Little Newport Street\, London\, WC2H 7JH\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Book Launches & Promotions
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://freespeechunion.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Screenshot-2024-08-23-at-12.17.12.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20240920T183000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20240920T230000
DTSTAMP:20250624T070633
CREATED:20240803T180625Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240828T135834Z
UID:10000085-1726857000-1726873200@freespeechunion.org
SUMMARY:Belfast Speakeasy: Why Free Speech Matters Now More than Ever
DESCRIPTION:Why Free Speech Matters Now More than Ever\nA Free Speech Union Belfast Speakeasy\nDATE: Friday 20th September\, 2024 \nTIME: Doors and bar open 6.30pm. Panel with Q & A\, 7.30pm until 9pm\, followed by social. \nVENUE: Lanyon Suite\, Crumlin Road Gaol\, Belfast. \nTICKETS: £6 for FSU members\, £10 for non-members\, £3 for students. \nIf you would like to take a tour of the gaol before the event\, you can find out more here. There is also a restaurant on site if you’d like to eat.  \nOur event begins at 7.30pm\, doors and bar open at 6.30pm.   \nJoin us at the historic Crumlin Road Gaol for the Free Speech Union’s second Northern Ireland Speakeasy and the launch of its new Northern Ireland Advisory Council. \nOn Friday 20th September we will discuss how we can best help people in the region defend their rights to freedom of expression. We will be monitoring closely and responding to any developments in hate crime legislation – having already been the primary organisation challenging similar law enacted in Scotland. We are supporting two cases where women’s rights activists have been targeted for their opinions\, but we will now be stepping up our capacity to defend free speech in Northern Ireland. \nAt a time of rising social tensions\, it is more important than ever that people can come together to raise the issues that concern them and to debate solutions. \nWe need you to tell us more about what is going on so that we can respond with our proven expertise in fighting cancel culture\, built up over four years and more than 2\,000 cases\, with a membership now exceeding 14\,000 across the United Kingdom. \nThe evening is your chance to hear from great speakers\, to get your voice heard on free speech issues and to meet other free speech enthusiasts. \nSPEAKERS \nKate Hoey\, Labour MP 1989 to 2019\, now Baroness Hoey of Lylehill and Rathlin \nHeather Binning\, Director of Women’s Rights Network \nSimon Chambers\, solicitor in the ‘TERFed Out’ case and ‘Sara Morrison vs Belfast Film Festival’ \nRuth Dudley Edwards\, journalist\, historian and crime novelist \nToby Young\, general secretary of the Free Speech Union \nAbout our speakers \nKate Hoey\, born in Country Antrim where her parents were farmers\, Kate Hoey served as Labour MP for Vauxhall in south London for 30 years and was appointed the UK’s first woman Minister for Sport in 1999. She maintained a strong interest in foreign affairs and gained a reputation for being one of the most independent\, non-tribal members of parliament.  \nHeather Binning was born in Scotland and began her career in the Foreign & Commonwealth Office where she held a number of overseas postings in places such as Washington DC to Kuwait. An experienced businesswoman\, she went on to establish the first public internet access across the UK before becoming an economic development consultant for a range of organisations. Heather took up the baton of women’s rights in July 2021\, bringing together a number of local women’s groups which grew to become the (entirely voluntary) Women’s Rights Network. The Network already connects thousands of women\, and continues to grow with more than 60 groups right across the UK. \nSimon Chambers has been practising as a litigation specialist and “problem solver” for nearly 25 years and is based just outside Belfast in Newtownards at Russell and Company Solicitors. Simon also practises in Family and Criminal law\, conveyancing and commercial matters. He is a member of the Law Society Council. Simon is currently pursuing two gender-critical discrimination cases in NI in both the Employment Tribunal and County Court. \nRuth Dudley Edwards is an historian\, crime novelist\, political commentator and an enthusiast for truth-telling. She runs a free speech Facebook page and ignores libelous bile on Twitter/X. Members of Sinn Fein have made unsuccessful efforts to silence her with legal threats. Index on Censorship filed a media freedom alert to the Council of Europe over a libel case taken against her by senior Sinn Fein ex-IRA figure Gerry Kelly as having ‘several characteristics of strategic lawsuits against public participation’. In March 2024\, he had to pay her costs in his failed suit. \nToby Young is the general secretary of the Free Speech Union\, a non-partisan\, mass membership public interest body that stands up for the speech rights of its members. He co-founded the West London Free School and is the author of four books\, the best known of which is How to Lose Friends & Alienate People. He is an associate editor of the Spectator\, where he’s written a weekly column since 1998. He also runs a blog called DailySceptic.org that has received over 40 million page views. \nJOIN the FSU to get discounts at all events. \nMembers receive free speech support and discounts for live events as well as exclusive access to online content\, so do consider joining the Free Speech Union.
URL:https://freespeechunion.org/event/belfast-speakeasy-why-free-speech-matters-more-than-ever/
LOCATION:Crumlin Road Gaol\, Belfast\, 53-55 Crumlin Road\, Belfast\, BT14 6ST\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Public Debates,Regional Speakeasies
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://freespeechunion.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/New-Events-2024-Template-1.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20240912T193000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20240912T220000
DTSTAMP:20250624T070633
CREATED:20240726T160905Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240726T160905Z
UID:10000084-1726169400-1726178400@freespeechunion.org
SUMMARY:THE WAR AGAINST THE PAST
DESCRIPTION:FSU BOOK LAUNCH \nThe War Against the Past \nWith Professor Frank Furedi and historian Professor Jonathan Clark  \nLondon and Online  \nTHURSDAY 12TH SEPTEMBER\, 7.30pm  \nA war is being waged against the Past. Whether it’s toppling statues\, decolonising the curriculum or erasing terms from our vocabulary\, a cultural crusade is underway designed to render the past toxic. It is condemned as enemy territory and has become the target of venomous hate. What is at stake in provoking such a strong sense of societal shame towards Western history?\n \nIn his latest book\, The War Against the Past: Why the West Must Fight for its History\, Frank Furedi mounts a fierce defence of the past and calls for a fight back against the delegitimization of its ideals and accomplishments. Casting the past as a story of shame has become a taken-for granted outlook permeating the educational and cultural life of western society from the top down.  Its advocates may see it as a cultural imperative\, but a society that loses touch with its past will face a permanent crisis of identity. Squandering the wisdom provided by our historical inheritance means betraying humanity’s positive achievements. Challenging this great betrayal\, Furedi argues\, is one of the most important battles of our time.  \nJoin us to hear Professor Furedi introduce his book and discuss it with his eminent respondent\, historian Professor Jonathan Clark.   \nThe lecture\, response and Q and A will be followed by a book-signing and wine reception. \nCopies of The War Against the Past will be on sale on the night for £25 or you can purchase it in advance\, for collection on arrival\, at checkout along with your ticket\, for just £20.  \nAlternatively\, you can order a copy for UK delivery\, at £22\, using this link. \nAbout Professor Frank Furedi  \nAuthor of more than 26 books\, Frank Furedi’s studies have been devoted to an exploration of the cultural developments in western societies. In recent years he has published several studies on the impact of the Culture Wars on family life\, socialisation\, education and public life. He is Emeritus Professor of Sociology at the University of Kent.   \n  \nAbout Professor Jonathan Clark  \nEducated at Cambridge\, he was a Fellow of Peterhouse; at Oxford\, he was a Fellow of All Souls College. In the US he was a Visiting Professor at the Committee on Social Thought at Chicago\, and Hall Distinguished Professor of British History at the University of Kansas. His latest book is The Enlightenment: An Idea and its History (OUP).  \n  \nReviews of The War Against the Past:  \n“In this deeply researched and brilliantly written book\, Frank Furedi shines a light on what is at stake in the current war against the past. Young people\, deprived of their cultural heritage\, are left confused and alienated.  The achievements of human civilisation are trashed.  What remains\, if we do not stop this trend\, is nihilism and despair.  Furedi gives a clarion call to action.” Robert Tombs\, University of Cambridge \n“In this important book\, Frank Furedi explains and also refutes the abuse of History by all those who are trying to use the past to further their narrow\, ideological interests. Covering a wide range of issues in politics\, the arts\, language\, and identity\, this is a vital and timely defence of the objective study of the past and will be of relevance to everyone who values evidence and truth in our culture.” Lawrence Goldman\, St. Peter’s College\, Oxford  \n  \nCHAIR:  \nDr Jan Macvarish\, Education and Events Director of the Free Speech Union.  \nIN-PERSON TICKETS: FSU members £10. Non-FSU Members £15. Aged 25 and under £12. Ticket plus donation to the FSU £25. \nThe book will be on sale on the night for £25 or you can purchase it in advance\, for collection on arrival\, at checkout along with your ticket for just £20. \nAlternatively\, you can order a copy for UK delivery\, at £22\, using this link. \nTicket-holders only – NO NEED TO PRINT TICKETS\, WE’LL HAVE A LIST OF REGISTRANTS.  \nOnline attendance is free to FSU members. Please register using the Zoom link supplied in FSU emails.  \nThe Free Speech Union is a non-partisan\, mass membership public interest body that stands up for the speech rights of its members. Find out more here.  \n  \n 
URL:https://freespeechunion.org/event/the-war-against-the-past/
LOCATION:Cavendish Conference Centre\, 22 Duchess Mews\, London\, London\, W1G 9DT\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Book Launches & Promotions,Guest Lectures
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://freespeechunion.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Furedi-2024-final.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20240910T193000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20240910T220000
DTSTAMP:20250624T070633
CREATED:20240725T124318Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240725T132340Z
UID:10000083-1725996600-1726005600@freespeechunion.org
SUMMARY:COMEDY UNLEASHED\, LONDON
DESCRIPTION:COMEDY UNLEASHED\, LONDON\nTuesday 10th September\, 7.30pm\nA night of free-thinking comedy with comedians who don’t self-censor. \nAdam Bloom \nAdam is a whip-sharp comic and author of ‘Finding You Comedy Genius’ and producer of three series of his own Radio 4 show\, The Problem with Adam Bloom. You have to see this guy. \nTania Edwards \nTania is an utterly middle-class sceptic of middle-class sensibilities\, empty-headed fads and groupthink. She is a super popular comic at the London Comedy Unleashed club. \nMiriam Elia  \nMiriam is our greatest satirical artist. She is the author of spoof Ladybird style children’s books  We Do Lockdown\, We See the Sights and many more\, as well as films and cuttingly brilliant works of art. \nJay Mack \nRecovering human with a dark\, surreal take on life. \nHarri Dhillon \nHarri Dhillon has been sharing his deliciously dark sense of humour on the stand-up scene for the past four years\, including beating notorious gong shows at The Comedy Store\, and Up The Creek. He was also accepted into the BBC Writersroom\, has written for the likes of Radio 4 and the London fringe theatre scene. \nDominic Frisby \nDominic is a libertarian version of Billy Bragg (with a sense of humour). He tells jokes\, he sings songs and he will be our excellent compere for the evening. Creator of internet sensation ’17 million f*** offs’ and writer of hilarious songs that satirise our bonkers culture\, including the recent ‘Gonna Mary Gary’. Here are some videos of Dominic at the London club \nWhy Comedy Unleashed? \nAndrew Doyle: \n“Andy Shaw and I set up Comedy Unleashed because we feel that the time is right for a new alternative comedy movement. We book comics from all political backgrounds\, or those who have no interest in politics at all. Our key criteria is that they are talented and funny. ” \nDetails \nDoors open 6pm. Food is available from 6.30pm. Show starts 7.30pm and finishes at 10pm. Artists on the bill may change. Ticket buyers will be added to the Comedy Unleashed email newsletter. You’re free to unsubscribe at any time. \nComedy Unleashed nights are not just a great night out and a light relief from the monoculture\, they are also a good chance to meet up with fellow free speech supporters. \nBring your friends! \nGET YOUR TICKETS HERE. \nFree Speech Union members\, supporters and friends get 10% off by adding the code provided in FSU newsletters to the ‘discount code’ box at checkout.
URL:https://freespeechunion.org/event/comedy-unleashed-london/
LOCATION:The Backyard Comedy Club\, 231 Cambridge Heath Rd\, London\, E2 0EL\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Live Comedy Specials
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://freespeechunion.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Sept-10th-24-landscape-scaled.jpeg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20240906T190000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20240906T220000
DTSTAMP:20250624T070633
CREATED:20240725T123102Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240815T104926Z
UID:10000082-1725649200-1725660000@freespeechunion.org
SUMMARY:COMEDY UNLEASHED\, LEEDS
DESCRIPTION:COMEDY UNLEASHED\, LEEDS\nFriday 6th September\, 7pm\nContinuing on their roll of sold-out events\, Comedy Unleashed are returning to Leeds. Having consistently sold out shows in London for the past 6 years\, Comedy Unleashed brings its refreshing brand of free-speech stand-up comedy to the The Hi-Fi Club\, 2 Central Road\, Leeds. \nThe no holds-barred line-up includes: \n\nFreddy Quinne\nNeel Kolhatkar\nBen Adams and\nMC Bruce Devlin\n\n  \nComedy Unleashed nights are not just a great night out and a light relief from the monoculture\, they are also a good chance to meet up with fellow free speech supporters. \nBring your friends! \n GET YOUR TICKETS HERE. \nFree Speech Union members\, supporters and friends get 10% off by adding the code provided in FSU newsletters to the ‘discount code’ box at checkout. \nThey can’t stop us laughing (at them!) 
URL:https://freespeechunion.org/event/comedy-unleashed-leeds/
LOCATION:The Hi-Fi Club\, Leeds 2 Central Road\, Leeds\, LS1 6DE
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://freespeechunion.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/6thSept2024Leeds-1-1536x864-1.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20240905T190000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20240905T220000
DTSTAMP:20250624T070633
CREATED:20240725T120710Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240803T183658Z
UID:10000081-1725562800-1725573600@freespeechunion.org
SUMMARY:COMEDY UNLEASHED\, MANCHESTER
DESCRIPTION:COMEDY UNLEASHED\, MANCHESTER\nThursday 5th September\, 7pm\nFollowing the success of its first sold out event in the city\, we are delighted to announce that Comedy Unleashed are returning to Manchester. Having consistently sold out shows in London for the past 6 years\, Comedy Unleashed brings its refreshing brand of free-speech stand-up comedy to the Impossible Club\, 36 Peter Street\, Manchester. \nThe no holds-barred line-up includes: \n\nFreddy Quinn\nNeel Kolhatkar\nBen Adams and\nMC Bruce Devlin\n\n  \nComedy Unleashed nights are not just a great night out and a light relief from the monoculture\, they are also a good chance to meet up with fellow free speech supporters. \nBring your friends! \nGET YOUR TICKETS HERE. \nFree Speech Union members\, supporters and friends get 10% off by adding the code provided in FSU newsletters to the ‘discount code’ box at checkout. \nThey can’t stop us laughing (at them!) 
URL:https://freespeechunion.org/event/comedy-unleashed-manchester-2/
LOCATION:Lloyd Street Bar\, Lloyd Street Bar\, 22 Lloyd Street\, Manchester\, M2 5WA\, United Kingdom
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://freespeechunion.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/5thSept2024_Manchester-1-1536x864-1.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20240904T193000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20240904T210000
DTSTAMP:20250624T070633
CREATED:20240827T142904Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240905T152248Z
UID:10000088-1725478200-1725483600@freespeechunion.org
SUMMARY:FREE SPEECH AFTER THE RIOTS
DESCRIPTION:FREE SPEECH AFTER THE RIOTS  \nWednesday 4th September\, 7.30pm  \nONLINE: Link will be provided to FSU members in exclusive emails.  \nThe shocking murders of three young girls and injuring of many others in the northern town of Southport prompted anti-immigrant protests around the country\, many of which descended into riots. In response\, the government made clear that it would crackdown not just on individuals actively involved in public disorder but also on those who speculated online about the identity of the murderer and others who posted opinions about the crime and the riots. Sir Keir Starmer blamed ‘misinformation’ and ‘disinformation’ on social media for whipping up violence and urged the authorities to prosecute people for saying supposedly inflammatory things online.  \nStephen Parkinson\, the Director of Public Prosecutions\, even warned that people sharing footage of the riots online may be prosecuted. “People might think they’re not doing anything harmful\, they are\, and the consequences will be visited upon them\,” he said.   \nAs a result\, a man has been sent to jail for 18 months for sharing something “offensive” that someone else said on Facebook\, another man was sent down for three years for posting “anti-Establishment rhetoric” and a third man was jailed for 18 months for chanting “Who the f*** is Allah?”.   \nThe government’s disturbingly authoritarian reaction further blurred the distinction between speech and action\, words and violence\, and prompted thousands in the UK to join the Free Speech Union to help us defend free expression and to protect themselves from possible legal action.  \nOn Wednesday 4th September\, we are bringing together an emergency panel of speakers to discuss the issues. General Secretary of the Free Speech Union\, Toby Young will be joined by Mark Johnson of free speech and privacy campaign group Big Brother Watch\, Tom Slater of online magazine Spiked and barrister George Thomas\, an expert in the policing of public order.  \nJoin the event online and you can put your questions to the panel. Register using the link that will be emailed to FSU members over the coming week. \nWe will also publish a video of the event. \nToby Young  \nToby Young is the General Secretary of the Free Speech Union\, a non-partisan\, mass membership public interest body that stands up for the speech rights of its members. He co-founded four schools and a multi-academy trust in West London\, served as a Fulbright Commissioner and is the author of four books\, the best known of which is How to Lose Friends & Alienate People (2001). He is an associate editor of the Spectator\, where he’s written a weekly column since 1998\, and Editor-in-Chief of the Daily Sceptic.   \nTom Slater  \nTom is the editor of Spiked\, the online magazine that is one of the most consistent defenders of free speech. He also writes regularly for the Spectator; he has written for the Sun\, the Telegraph and The Sunday Times; and he appears regularly on TV and radio. Tom is also co-host of the Spiked podcast\, a weekly round-up of news and controversy\, and Last Orders\, a podcast all about freedom and the nanny state.  \nMark Johnson  \nMark is the Advocacy Manager for Big Brother Watch\, the UK civil liberties and privacy campaigning organisation. He has long been an advocate for civil liberties and democracy and has worked in parliament\, party politics\, and public affairs. Mark was previously a Parliamentary Assistant where he worked on domestic and international human rights issues including opposition to the death penalty and freedom of religion.  \nGeorge Thomas  \nGeorge is a barrister immensely experienced in police law\, having worked in the field for over twenty years. He is regularly instructed in civil actions against the police\, judicial review\, inquests and disciplinary proceedings. He provides in-depth and ongoing legal advice to a number of constabularies on both operational and organisational matters\, including collaboration agreements and major public order events. He has a particular interest – and almost unrivalled experience and expertise – in public order policing\, from anti-fracking protests to Friday night punch-ups. 
URL:https://freespeechunion.org/event/free-speech-after-the-riots/
LOCATION:Online Event: Zoom
CATEGORIES:Public Debates
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://freespeechunion.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Riots-final.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20240904T083000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20240904T093000
DTSTAMP:20250624T070633
CREATED:20240827T122239Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240828T152731Z
UID:10000087-1725438600-1725442200@freespeechunion.org
SUMMARY:THE WAR ON FREE SPEECH GOES GLOBAL
DESCRIPTION:THE WAR ON FREE SPEECH GOES GLOBAL\nEXCLUSIVE ONLINE EVENT: UK FSU Members will receive the link to join in member emails. \nWednesday 4th September\, please note\, this take place at 8.30am (UK time). \nFSU members are warmly invited to attend the first online meeting of the International Association of Free Speech Unions\, an alliance of Free Speech Unions in the UK\, New Zealand\, Australia and South Africa. The unions’ directors will discuss the remarkable similarity between the threats to free speech across the English-speaking world. \nAs New Zealand FSU Chief Executive Jonathan Ayling said at its launch in July 2024: \n“The English-speaking West has led the world in championing the idea that all individuals must be free to speak. This idea has contributed to peaceful\, stable\, and prosperous countries. Yet this freedom is under threat by both domestic and international opponents. The International Association of Free Speech Unions (IAFSU) will support the work of established FSUs\, and enable others to be founded. \nWhile remaining as independent organisations\, the cooperation of Free Speech Unions through the IAFSU will ensure we are each able to champion everyone’s right to speak freely domestically and respond to threats that emerge internationally. \nOur would-be-censors are on notice; anti-free speech bullies have a fight on their hands.” \n\n\nFor those unable to join this early morning call\, a video of the discussion will be published after the event.
URL:https://freespeechunion.org/event/the-war-on-free-speech-goes-global/
LOCATION:Online Event: Zoom
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://freespeechunion.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Screenshot-2024-08-28-at-16.26.52.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20240722T193000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20240722T223000
DTSTAMP:20250624T070633
CREATED:20240604T135047Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240604T135047Z
UID:10000080-1721676600-1721687400@freespeechunion.org
SUMMARY:Secrets\, Suppression and Authoritarianism
DESCRIPTION: Secrets\, Suppression and Authoritarianism  \n with Andrew Gold and Winston Marshall \nMonday 22nd July\, 7.30pm \nLola’s Bar\, Lower Ground Floor\, The Hippodrome\, Main Entrance\, London WC2H 7JH \nAlthough our culture is one in which authenticity is apparently highly prized\, where we are encouraged to ‘speak our truth’ and ‘bring our whole selves to work’\, we all know that things are not as they seem. While those who hold views that align with the new codes and conventions feel free to express themselves\, those of a more questioning disposition have become used to sharing their views only with extreme caution. Dissenters have become used to secret meetings\, anonymous forums and negotiating the risk of being ‘outed’. Stories about words becoming taboo overnight and new ones being imposed upon us are reported every day and in workplaces and civic life\, people are having to work out when to comply and when to stand their ground.  \n  \nThankfully\, there does still seem to be space for heretics who hold to unfashionable truths\, but what are the consequences for the rest of us of failing to speak our minds\, of keeping our true opinions a secret and of suppressing our consciences? What happens in a society where speaking your mind becomes ever more risky? What is the effect of this culture of secrecy and cognitive dissonance?   \n  \nWe have two fantastic speakers to help us explore the significance of secrets\, suppression and authoritarianism: Andrew Gold and Winston Marshall.  \n  \nAndrew Gold is a journalist and YouTuber whose new book\, The Psychology of Secrets: My Adventures with Murderers\, Cults & Influencers\, takes a deep dive into the significance of secrets as a social phenomenon. Drawing on psychology\, history\, social science\, philosophy and personal interviews\, the book spans every aspect of secret-keeping from religious and cult leaders retaining mystique by keeping secrets from their followers to the psychology of confessing secrets to friends and strangers. The relationship between secrecy and power is explored from all directions\, in a fascinating read that sparks all kinds of insights into our contemporary predicament. Andrew has made documentaries around the world about extreme ideologies for the BBC & HBO and his YouTube channel\, Heretics\, has over 140\,000 subscribers.  \n  \nWinston Marshall is host of The Winston Marshall Show and co-founder of the Dissident Dialogues festival of ideas which took place recently in New York. Previously\, he was best known for his musical career\, in particular as co-founder of folk-rock band Mumford & Sons. In their fourteen years together\, the band won two Grammy Awards\, two Brit Awards\, an Ivor Novello and performed with the likes of Bob Dylan\, Bruce Springsteen\, Neil Young\, Willie Nelson and Elton John. Winston has direct experience of the darkness of cancel culture. He left Mumford & Sons in 2021 when a tweet he posted complimenting journalist Andy Ngo’s book Unmasked\, an investigation into the workings of so-called ‘anti-fascist’ movement antifa\, resulted in a decidedly fascist-like campaign to cancel him. Since then\, Winston’s written work has been published by The Free Press\, The Jewish Chronicle\, The Spectator\, The Daily Mail. In 2021 he co-founded Hong Kong Link Up\, a not-for-profit organisation helping Hongkonger asylum seekers settle and assimilate in the UK.  \n\n\n\n\n\nThere will\, of course\, be plenty of time for audience Q and A. \nThere will be a book-signing and social after the formal part of the evening. \nIn-person tickets: \n£10 for FSU members \n£15 for members of the public \nPre-order The Psychology of Secrets: My adventures with murderers\, cults and influencers by Andrew Gold for only £14 at check-out\, for collection and signing on the night. \nOnline tickets \nIf you can’t make it to London\, you can join online for £5. (FSU members can join free of charge\, using links provided in FSU emails). Order the book online\, for UK delivery only\, for £18. \nSPECIAL DINING OFFER \nThe Hippodrome invites you to enjoy a meal before or after the event at one of its restaurants. Show your confirmation email to staff to receive a 25% discount at Chop Chop or the Heliot Steakhouse. Both are rated ‘exceptional’ on Opentable\, with Heliot considered one of London’s very best steakhouses and Chop Chop by Four Seasons already hailed as one of the West End’s best Chinese restaurants only a year after launch. Please book here for Chop Chop or here for Heliot then show your confirmation email when you arrive at the restaurant. (Offer eligible only on Monday 22nd July 2024.) \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nFrequently asked questions\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nDo I need to print my ticket?\n\n\n\n\n\nNo\, we will have a registration list on the door\, including details of all pre-ordered books.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nCan under-18s come?\n\n\n\n\n\nNo\, the venue is strictly for over-18s only and you are advised to bring physical ID\, regardless of your age.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nIs the venue accessible?\n\n\n\n\n\nYes\, there is entrance via a lift. Please see here for details: https://www.hippodromecasino.com/accessibility/\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nHow can I get a copy of Andrew Gold’s book?\n\n\n\n\n\nIf you pre-order the book when you buy your in-person ticket\, you will pay only £14 for the book. Alternatively\, you can order a copy for £18 and have it posted to a UK address.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nCan I get my book signed on the night?\n\n\n\n\n\nYes\, Andrew will be signing books from 9pm.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nCan I eat at the venue?\n\n\n\n\n\nYes\, the Hippodrome invites you to enjoy a meal before or after the event at one of its restaurants. Show your confirmation email to staff to receive a 25% discount at Chop Chop or the Heliot Steakhouse. (Offer eligible only on Monday 22nd July 2024.)
URL:https://freespeechunion.org/event/secrets-suppression-and-authoritarianism/
LOCATION:Hippodrome\, London\, Little Newport Street\, London\, WC2H 7JH\, United Kingdom
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://freespeechunion.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/GOLD-FINAL.png
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR