The Free Speech Union
Welcome to the Free Speech Union's podcast. Listen to our weekly episodes with great guests speaking about the cornerstone of our democracy which is under attack.
The Free Speech Union is a non-partisan, mass membership public interest body that stands up for the speech rights of its members and campaigns for free speech more widely. We champion the right of people from all walks of life to express themselves without fear of punishment or persecution. We often come to the defence of our members who get into trouble for exercising their right to lawful free speech, whether in the workplace, at university or on social media.
Join the FSU: https://freespeechunion.org/join.html
Episodes

Jul 15, 2026
Jul 15, 2026
30 min
The latest threat to free speech on trans issues has been published by the government.
The draft Conversion Practices Bill purports to protect gay and trans people from abuse. It creates a new criminal offence, punishable with up to five years in prison.
Minister for Equalities, Emily Bailey MP, claims it won't stop parents and therapists talking openly to children with identity issues. She says it only crimnalises conversion practices which are abusive and which cause serious harm. However, James Esses, a therapist and campaigner who challenges children who believe they are "trapped in the wrong body" argues that the proposed new law puts him at risk of jail. #freespeech #transgender
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Follow James Esses
X/Twitter: https://x.com/JamesEsses
Substack: https://substack.com/@jamesesses
James's home page: https://jamesesses.com/

Jul 8, 2026
Jul 8, 2026
35 min
The UK government plans to ban social media for under 16s. Is it digital ID by stealth? The Free Speech Union's general secretary, Lord Young, answers this and other questions sent in by FSU members.
*Will VPNs might be banned?
*Is it true that the ban won't apply to Bluesky?
*How will it be enforced?
*How has a similar ban worked in Australia?
*Will it lead to more censorship and regulation of the media?
Hosted by Jan McVarish, the FSU's education and events director. #freespeech #socialmediaban #digitalidentity
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Jul 1, 2026
Jul 1, 2026
31 min
Investigative reporter Nick Wallis played a leading role in exposing the Post Office scandal. His BBC documentaries helped uncover the biggest miscarriage of justice in British legal history and led to a public inquiry. Now Nick's turning his journalistic skills to exposing the medical and safeguarding harms caused by trans ideology. But this time, he doesn't have the backing of the BBC. "I got involved when it became a free speech issue," he tells the Free Speech Union's Connie Shaw. #freespeech #transgender #bbcnews
Support the Free Speech Union: https://freespeechunion.org/join
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Follow Nick Wallis
X/Twitter: https://x.com/nickwallis
Nick's website: https://nickwallis.com/
Donate to and follow Nick's work on trans: https://genderblog.net/
Donate to and follow Nick's work on the Post Office Scandal: https://www.postofficescandal.uk/

Jun 24, 2026
Jun 24, 2026
36 min
Former UK government Energy Secretary Claire Coutinho MP reveals how civil service "group think" stopped questioning of Net Zero. From misleading costings to attempts to silence dissent, Coutinho reveals why she believes the Climate Change Act needs a total reset. #freespeech #netzero #climatechange
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Jun 17, 2026
Jun 17, 2026
44 min
Is the 'vibe shift' real? Or are we kidding ourselves that we are past “peak woke”?
Bestselling novelist Lionel Shriver joins the Free Speech Union’s general secretary Lord Young to explain why the 'long war' on free speech is just beginning.
They discuss
*Immigration: the subject of Lionel’s latest novel “A Better Life” and why immigration has become the litmus test for progressives.
*The Trans Debate: Why Lionel is resisting the urge to write the "predictable" trans novel. *Ideological Conformism: The chilling reason why most intellectuals choose "ideological collusion" over truth.
* Political Violence: Reaction to the murder of Charlie Kirk and the rising temperature of the far-left.
Support the Free Speech Union: https://freespeechunion.org/join
Read Lionel Shriver’s latest novel A Better Life: https://https://www.amazon.co.uk/Better-Life-Lionel-Shriver/dp/0063482142
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Jun 11, 2026
Jun 11, 2026
50 min
Ex-cop Rick Prior worked in the Met police's Culture, Diversity and Inclusion department. He reveals how he witnessed the adoption of the sort of woke ideologies that lead to two-tier policing and situations like the arrest of dying victim Henry Nowak. #freespeech #twotierpolicing #henrynowak
Read the Free Speech Union's briefing "With Fear and Favour: Britiain's Policing Emergency": https://freespeechunion.org/publications/fear-and-favour-policing-emergency
Join the Free Speech Union: https://freespeechunion.org/
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Follow Rick Prior: https://x.com/mpfchairman

May 22, 2026
May 22, 2026
34 min
Former BBC editor Rob Burley talks about his recent Unherd investigation: "Inside the capture of the BBC How transgenderism killed impartiality."
This is an insider account of how bosses at one of Britain’s most important institutions became scared of young, woke employees and speaking freely. #freespeech #bbc #bbcnews
Read Rob's article for Unherd: https://unherd.com/2026/05/inside-the-capture-of-the-bbc/
Follow Rob Burley:
SubStack: https://substack.com/@UCws6I35J8b51YrUdkcph8CA
X/Twitter: https://x.com/RobBurl?lang=en
Join the Free Speech Union: https://freespeechunion.org/
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May 17, 2026
May 17, 2026
31 min
Journalist Janet Murray tells Connie Shaw how her views about trans impacted her community choir. The "Singing Striders" were dropped by disability charity Scope from performing at the London Marathon. Scope objected to Janet's views, even though they were unrelated to her work with the choir. Scope backed down at the last minute, but too late for the show to go on. The choir row is just the latest attack Janet has suffered in a long campaign against her. #freespeech #transgender #ukpolitics
Join the Free Speech Union: https://freespeechunion.org/
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Follow Janet Murray
https://janetmurray.co.uk
https://x.com/jan_murray
https://janetmurray.substack.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/janet-murray74/

May 13, 2026
May 13, 2026
34 min
After Independent Councillor John Edwards asked questions about a scheme for housing Afghan migrants, he found himself under investigation by the local council. Even though he was cleared by an independent investigator, he still faces a hearing and has had to launch a CROWDFUNDER to defend himself.
JOHN'S CROWDFUNDER: https://www.gofundme.com/f/silenced-for-telling-the-truth-about-an-afghan-hotel-scheme?attribution_id=sl:a3a0cd74-42ae-4834-88c9-c9ee17ae16da&lang=en_GB&ts=1778681504&utm_campaign=man_sharesheet_dash&utm_content=amp20_t1&utm_medium=customer&utm_source=copy_link
Follow John https://linktr.ee/John_EdwardsUK
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May 7, 2026
May 7, 2026
45 min
The Labour MP and lifelong socialist reveals his fears about censorship, corporate spies and attempts to undermine democracy. #freespeech #pressfreedom #ukpolitics
Plus, the Free Speech Union’s David Rose shares his exclusive investigation into a pro-censorship web of Labour apparatchiks.
Read the FSU’s briefing, "Starmer’s Misinformation Mafia" now: https://freespeechunion.org//publications/starmers-misinformation-mafia
Join the Free Speech Union: https://freespeechunion.org/
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