The Free Speech Union

The Rise of Low Liberalism

This week we are very excited to talk with Dr Thomas Prosser from Cardiff University on the topic of “low liberalism”.  Dr Prosser coined the term low liberalism in a March 2023 piece for his sub stack ‘the path not taken’: https://www.thepathnottaken.net/p/the-rise-of-low-liberalismWe start by clarifying our definitions before trying to fit the idea of low liberalism into the mosaic of other contemporary cultural concepts, such as woke, social justice, authoritarianism, and the limits of politics. We also think about the role social media has played in allowing low liberalism to emerge and thrive.  We then ponder some of the potentially catastrophic consequences of low liberalism and what all of this means for free speech, including the fostering of a chilling atmosphere that forces people to self-censor. Dr Prosser leaves listeners with a final thought on the many similar ideas that are being discussed, and how it is quite possible for them to co-exist, even where they might contradict.

A Free Speech Tsar is Born

This week we celebrate the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act 2023, which has now received Royal Assent. This new piece of law, brought in following a considerable amount of lobbying by the FSU, will strengthen the statutory protection available to academics and students exercising their free speech rights at university.  At a more micro level, the FSU’s new Mactaggart Programme is already enabling individual groups to fight back against the multiple flavours of ‘pocket veto’ that are deployed both by protesters and university authorities (such as handing on the bill for event security). Salman Rushdie enters the chat with his damning verdict on modern censorship and we discuss how authoritative voices like his underline the fact that cancel culture is a serious problem.  Finally, we ponder a case with echoes of the FSU’s own PayPal troubles last year. Yet another financial institution, this time Tide bank, appears to have shut down its services to TRIGGERnometry, a free speech platform that invites on speakers from across the political spectrum.

How Hitchens Can Save The Left

In this week's episode, we are delighted to be joined by special guest and author, Matt Johnson. We discuss his debut book, "How Hitchens Can Save the Left: Rediscovering Fearless Liberalism in an Age of Counter-Enlightenment". This deep dive into Hitchens' work unearths the nuances of his exploration into fearless liberalism.Join us as we discuss the enduring impact of Hitchens on contemporary liberal thought and how his intellectual courage can rejuvenate the left in today's age of counter-enlightenment. Whether you're a long-time admirer of Hitchens or new to his work, this episode promises to engage and challenge, offering fresh perspectives on the role of liberalism in our society.

The Coronation Plodcast

This week’s episode was recorded in the midst of the media storm around the allegedly heavy-handed policing of King Charles III’s coronation, and so we took the opportunity to speak with Tim Cruddas who is both an experienced police officer and a member of the FSU staff. Tim always makes us think about what it’s really like on the front line of policing and provides some very necessary balance to our debates around policing and free speech. Today’s ‘plodcast’ ranges from the inescapable tension between the right to protest and the right to freedom of expression, the practicalities of policing large public events, through to a historical perspective on successful (and some less successful) protests.  We also touch on why it’s so important to get to your local pharmacy before the Prince & Princess of Wales trigger a pesky road closure.

Be Kind…Or Else!

This week we celebrate the FSU’s first use of the Mactaggart Programme to support Bristol University’s “Women Talk Back” event. We then discuss the quite overwhelming number of transgender related cancellations that have taken place over the last seven days, from outrage at Professor Stock in Oxford to a rather predictable reaction from the Irish Eurovision band ‘Wild Youth’.  There is victory for Christian employee, Maureen Martin, as her tribunal outcome brings some balance to the tension between two sets of protected characteristics: sexual orientation and religious belief. Finally, we dive into the FSU’s ‘naughty lists’, highlighting the UK institutions that appear most frequently in our case data.   

Live Not by Lies

Hello Possums! We start our episode with a fond farewell to the unmatched Dame Edna, before exploring more deeply the impact of the relentless relabelling of our cultural landmarks, from the Brecon Beacons in Wales to Respect Way in Birmingham.  We seriously propose the idea that DEI officers are sorely underpaid, before pondering the frightening effects of Confucius Institutes in UK universities.  There’s some encouraging PayPal news from the US, where the SEC appears to have sided with free speech loving shareholders. But today’s over-arching theme is Solzhenitsyn’s instruction from 1974: those who cherish freedom must “live not by lies”.

The Speech Code of The Woosters

Our weekly dive into the free speech world.  We hike through the mountain range formerly known as Brecon Beacons (no BBQ allowed), stop off in Northern Ireland to bemoan proposed hate speech legislation, before ending at the pub where large numbers of Essex police like to come and arrest toy dolls.  Our big positive news is the halting of the Worker Protection Bill, though naturally disappointing for any among us keen to join the thought police.  And, finally, might Shakespeare hold the key to everything?

Little Britain, Big State – An Easter special

Hold on to your Easter bonnets! In this week's episode we cover everything from egg hunts and Fawlty Towers, to The Death of Stalin and the Canadian Government's response to anyone supporting the truckers' "Freedom convoy".

Je suis Charlie

In this week's episode,  Tom and Ben chat discuss April Fools' Day, The Workers' Protection Bill, Dangerous data, Students turning into snowflakes and our upcoming blasphemy event.

Murder On The Orient. Express Outrage!

In this week's episode we discuss the furore surrounding Posie Parker's visit to New Zealand, Agatha Christie, the cancellation of Baroness Claire Fox, centralised banking and the dangers TikTok poses to the future of literacy. Whether you're a casual listener or a passionate advocate, you won't want to miss this episode of That's Debatable!