The Latest Breaking News from the Free Speech Union

Trump administration diverts human rights funds to push far-right agenda abroad

Support such as for white Afrikaners and anti-communism reveals how US is redefining what qualifies as human rights

The Guardian - US · Sep 30

Revealed: Toby Young free speech group crowdfunded over £60,000 for legal case fought by pro-bono lawyer

Staff members said Free Speech Union would ‘need to explain’ how it spent money donated by its supporters

The Guardian - UK · Aug 18

Why Does Trump Want To Give Millions of Dollars to Right-Wing Europeans?

Trump opposes foreign influence in American politics, but his State Department is offering millions of dollars to promote Western identity and opposition to “mass migration” abroad.

Reason · Aug 3

Met Police to stop investigating non-crime hate incidents after Graham Linehan ‘anti-trans’ probe dropped

It follows the decision by police to take no further action against the ‘Father Ted’ creator

The Independent UK · Oct 20, 2025

Former Met chief calls for ministers to scrap non-crime hate incidents

Lord Bernard Hogan-Howe and Lord Toby Young launch effort to change the Crime and Policing Bill that would stop requiring police to record NCHIs

Evening Standard · Oct 17, 2025

Man fined for burning Qur’an in London wins appeal against conviction

Judge says Hamit Coskun has ‘right to offend’ and overturns conviction for religiously aggravated public order offence

The Guardian - UK · Oct 10, 2025

Police accused of 'harassing' cancer patient after officer visited her home over 'upsetting' Facebook comment

Woman threatens ‘to get Elon Musk’ on police officer who accused her of making ‘upsetting’ Facebook comments

Evening Standard · Sep 19, 2025

OPINION - If people aren’t allowed to speak their minds, how can we hope to change them?

When the vice-president of the United States took Sir Keir Starmer to task earlier this year for failing to uphold free speech, the Prime Minister was quick to hit back. “In relation to free speech in the UK, I’m very proud of our history there,” he said. “We’ve had free…

Evening Standard · Jul 17, 2025

Man who burned Koran was attacked and spat at, court told

Hamit Coskun is on trial at Westminster Magistrates’ Court after burning the Islamic text on February 13.

Evening Standard · May 29, 2025

Criminalising Koran burning would be reintroducing blasphemy law, court told

Hamit Coskun is on trial at Westminster Magistrates’ Court.

Evening Standard · May 28, 2025