White actors in Brian Cox play given ‘anti-oppression’ and misogyny training by National Theatre of Scotland

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Jackie Wylie, the artistic director and NTS chief executive, has ordered a review after the Free Speech Union complained the training treated “members of one racial group less favourably than members of others”. It said the specific exemption for black performers implied the “training is only mandatory for actors of white, European ancestry”.

Ben Borland, Scottish Daily Express, 26th May 2025.

White House pressures Starmer over Lucy Connolly case

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Lord Young, the general secretary of the Free Speech Union, which helped fund Connolly’s appeal, said: “This is the third national humiliation in a week under Sir Keir Starmer’s premiership. 

“Has it really come to this? That the US government now has to monitor human rights abuses in the United Kingdom?

“Britain is rapidly becoming the North Korea of the North Sea.”

Connor Stringer, Charles Hymas, The Telegraph, 25th May 2025.

White actors in Brian Cox play forced to take anti-oppression course

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Jackie Wylie, artistic director and NTS chief executive, has ordered a review after the Free Speech Union complained the training treated “members of one racial group less favourably than members of others”.

The union, founded by the journalist and Conservative peer Lord Young of Acton, said the specific exemption for black performers implied the “training is only mandatory for actors of white, European ancestry”.

Mark McLaughlin, The Times, 25th May 2025.

Trump sends free-speech team to interview UK activists

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Lord Young, the general secretary of the Free Speech Union, which helped fund Connolly’s appeal, said: “If Sir Keir Starmer gave any promises to protect free speech in the course of negotiating the UK-US trade agreement, he doesn’t appear to be keeping them.”

Connor Stringer, Janet Eastman, Cameron Henderson, The Telegraph, 24th May 2025.

Ben Boult: We need a British First Amendment – and here’s how we could get close to one

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The Human Rights Act 1998 has a rather sketchy record when it comes to protecting the right to offend. A quick glance at the Free Speech Union’s in-tray (I encourage you to visit their website) reveals what a mess our case law is.

Ben Boult, Conservative Home, 22nd May 2025.

Where is the tender Catholic conscience to speak up for Lucy Connolly?

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Toby Young, the general secretary of the Free Speech Union, looks instead, by way of contrast to highlight the disproportion and injustice, to the immigrant grooming gangs: “How can it be right for Lucy to have been condemned to spend more than two-and-a-half years in jail for a single tweet when members of grooming gangs who plead guilty to the sexual exploitation of children get lower sentences?”

Gavin Ashenden, The Catholic Herald, 21st May 2025.

Two-tier justice row after Tory councillor’s wife loses appeal to cut her 31-month sentence for ‘racist’ Southport tweet

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The Free Speech Union (FSU), which had funded Connolly’s appeal bid, were among those criticising the decision. 

Toby Young, its general secretary, said: “This is terribly disappointing. How can it be right for Lucy to have been condemned to spend more than two-and-a-half years in jail for a single tweet when members of grooming gangs who plead guilty to the sexual exploitation of children get lower sentences? Lucy should be at home with her 12 year-old daughter and husband, not rotting in jail.”

MailOnline, 21st May 2025.

Braverman: Arrest of ex-special constable over tweet is national embarrassment

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With support from the Free Speech Union, he is now crowdfunding to take legal action against the force.

Janet Eastham, The Telegraph, 17th May 2025.

Tory councillor’s wife ‘had no idea what she was admitting’ when she pleaded guilty to online rant about migrants in wake of Southport attack

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Next, the Free Speech Union report:

Those present included Toby Young, founder of the Free Speech Union, journalist Allison Pearson, who was briefly investigated by police last year over a social media post about the Hamas-Israel conflict, and Dan Wootton, and former GB News presenter Dan Wootton.

Ryan Hooper, Daily Mail, 15th May 2025.

The thick blue line

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Next, the Free Speech Union report:

Someone complained about Julian’s tweet to the Met and Metropolitan Police Intelligence Command – a specialist unit set up to deal with terrorism and extremism – referred it to Kent Police, citing “concerns around online content”. The following day, six police officers turned up at his home, ransacked the premises, arrested him, detained him for eight hours and gave him a caution.

Ben Sixsmith, The Critic, 14th May 2025.