On Monday evening, Lord Moynihan of Chelsea kindly sponsored our Free Speech drinks reception in the House of Lords.
It was a lively and festive occasion, bringing together a cross-party group of Members of Parliament, peers, academics and free speech supporters to raise a glass (or two) and reflect on the year we have spent defending freedom of expression.
We heard speeches from the Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Free Speech, Richard Holden MP; the Shadow Justice Secretary, Robert Jenrick MP; Lord Hannan of Kingsclere; and our founder and General Secretary, Lord Young of Acton.
2025 has been a landmark year for the Free Speech Union. Our membership has grown from 24,283 to 40,755, our staff team has expanded from 17 to 25, and we have supported members in over 1,800 cases. The past year has also demonstrated, more clearly than ever, why the fight to protect our fundamental right to free speech remains so vital.
From the Employment Rights Bill’s proposed “banter ban” and the push for an official definition of Islamophobia, to the Online Safety Act, we have worked both inside and outside Parliament to defend freedom of expression. Most recently, we launched a campaign opposing David Lammy’s proposal to curtail the right to trial by jury — an assault on English liberty, and particularly on free speech, unmatched for over 800 years. Our petition calling on the government to safeguard this ancient right has already attracted more than 35,000 signatures and was praised by the Shadow Justice Secretary, Robert Jenrick MP.
Throughout the year, we have worked closely with politicians from across the political spectrum to ensure that free speech prevails. The APPG on Free Speech and the Free Speech Union have operated in close partnership, convening a series of roundtable discussions on critical issues such as academic freedom and the dangers posed by adopting an official definition of Islamophobia.
We also took the opportunity to raise a glass to our founder and General Secretary, Lord Young of Acton, to mark his first year in the House of Lords — where he has already made a significant impact.
As we look ahead to 2026, we aim to strengthen our engagement with politicians to ensure they are fully aware of our work and are encouraged, through their parliamentary efforts, to defend and promote free speech.
Finally, we were delighted to receive a mention in Politico London Playbook.