That’s Debatable!

Darren Grimes is the Reform UK deputy leader of County Durham County Council.  Since Reform was elected to Durham County Council in May, there have been 172 complaints about councillors, with 34 leading to taxpayer-funded investigations. 21 of the complaints were against Darren Grimes.   Darren subsequently amended the constitution to protect freedom of speech. The amendments were inspired by the FSU code of conduct for elected members that will protect their freedom of expression which Bromley Council has also adopted. It says “the right to freedom of speech under the law is the basis of democracy and will be upheld at all times and there is no right to be offended by any lawful expression”.    The amendment has been met with backlash from opposition councillors who have branded the protection of freedom of speech as a dangerous move, with one even arguing that it "encourages real violence”...   Join the Free Speech Union: freespeechunion.org/join   Follow Darren: https://x.com/darrengrimes   Follow the Free Speech Union X/Twitter: x.com/SpeechUnion Instagram: www.instagram.com/freespeechunion Facebook: www.facebook.com/SpeechUnion

In 2021, the award-winning author, teacher and poet Kate Clanchy suffered one of the most public and aggressive cancellations in the cultural world. In a series of vicious attacks, online critics accused her bestselling memoir, Some Kids I Taught and What They Taught Me, of ‘racism’ and ‘ablism’, provoking an unprecedented pile-on. Shamefully, her own publishers, Picador, sided with the accusers. A new seven-part podcast, Anatomy of a Cancellation, has been acclaimed for its in-depth analysis of the whole Salem-like affair, in this interview, the FSU’s Jan Macvarish asks Kate for her reflections on the story it tells. How has she survived the almost total destruction of her reputation? Books on cancellation that are mentioned in the interview include Helen Garner’s The First Stone, Mark Lawson’s The Allegations and Phillip Roth’s The Human Stain.  You can read more of Kate’s most recent writing here.  

Cath Leng is a former BBC journalist who has spoken out amidst the BBC bias scandal. Disciplined for raising serious concerns about lack of impartiality on the reporting of transgender stories and censorship of gender critical perspectives, Leng reveals how she was forced out of the BBC for simply doing her job. Speaking to External Affairs Officer Connie Shaw, they explore why balanced and impartial broadcasting is essential for public discourse and debate.    Join the Free Speech Union: freespeechunion.org/join   Follow Cath: https://x.com/leng_cath Follow SEEN in Journalism: https://x.com/JournalismSEEN   Follow the Free Speech Union X/Twitter: x.com/SpeechUnion Instagram: www.instagram.com/freespeechunion

Watch Connie Shaw speak to Times Radio producer Maxie Allen who reveals the behind the scenes of his and his partner’s arrest for private WhatsApps. With the help of the Free Speech Union, Maxie and his partner Rosalind have received £20,000 in compensation from Hertfordshire Police who have admitted to wrongful arrest.    Join the Free Speech Union: freespeechunion.org/join   Follow the Free Speech Union X/Twitter: x.com/SpeechUnion Instagram: www.instagram.com/freespeechunion Facebook: www.facebook.com/SpeechUnion

Susan Smith is one of the founders and directors of For Women Scotland, the grassroots women’s rights campaigners who took the Scottish government all the way to the Supreme Court and won, with the ruling that a woman is defined by being biologically female under the Equality Act 2010.   Susan Smith had been ordered to accept a Police Recorded Warning, or else be charged with a minor vandalism offense following a disputed incident involving alleged damage to an umbrella. The footage of the incident was captured on camera which raised significant questions about what exactly Susan had done to deserve such treatment.     Now, following media pressure, Police Scotland have dropped their investigation and Susan will not receive a warning or any charges. She can now comment on the ordeal…   Follow For Women Scotland: https://x.com/ForWomenScot   Join the Free Speech Union: freespeechunion.org/join   Follow the Free Speech Union X/Twitter: x.com/SpeechUnion Instagram: www.instagram.com/freespeechunion Facebook: www.facebook.com/SpeechUnion   Edited by Jason Clift