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FSU Scotland Launches, Attracts Cross-Party Support

by Toby Young
12 April 2022 7:31 PM

The Free Speech Union is launching FSU Scotland next week and is attracting widespread, cross-party support, as reported in today’s Times Scotland.

A new campaign group, supported by high profile politicians, academics and religious figures, is being set up to oppose the emergence of an “intimidatory” cancel culture and the censoring of controversial views.

Joanna Cherry, the SNP MP and QC, Jenny Lindsay, the award-winning poet, Lindsay Paterson, a professor of education policy, and Murdo Fraser MSP, the former deputy leader of the Scottish Conservatives, have given their support to the Free Speech Union Scotland, which will launch later this month.

Others who have joined the organisation’s inaugural advisory council are Iain Macwhirter, the journalist and former rector of the University of Edinburgh, Peter Kearney, the director of the Catholic Media Office and Jim Sillars, the former SNP deputy leader.

A number of academics, activists and politicians have been subjected to physical threats and online abuse after they expressed views on contentious issues, such as gender self-identification and the rebranding of statues and buildings named after controversial public figures.

Lindsay was advised by police not to attend events unaccompanied after she was subjected to an online hate campaign. She was vilified, ostracised and labelled a “bigot” after she raised concerns, in a tweet, about a trans rights advocate threatening violence against lesbian activists who they branded “Terfs” (trans-exclusionary radical feminists).

Jenny Lindsay was particularly eloquent about the difficulty of having civil conversations about the trans issue in Scotland.

Lindsay said: “I’ve had people interfere with my work by contacting people who hire me, people attempt to encourage friends and collaborators to cease contact, been dropped by writer friends who share my views but who are terrified for their careers and seen people who support me harangued on Twitter.

“I was dropped from a £2,000 commission as the client feared they might get attacked on social media, not because they thought I’d done anything wrong.

“It has upturned my entire life and was exceptionally damaging mentally. I was also an absolutely ridiculous target for all of this given I’ve both worked with and hired trans people for 20 years.” She added: “In nearly 20 years of programming events and writing and performing in Scotland I have never known an atmosphere so stifled, nor the importance of freedom of expression so disregarded by individual writers and arts organisations.

“I dearly hope for robust discussion about re-energising Scotland’s literary landscape so that writers and thinkers feel free to explore complex contemporary issues without fears of no-platforming, ostracisation, smearing and loss of livelihood.”

Worth reading in full.

I gave a quote to the Times that wasn’t used, so I’ll reproduce it here instead:

We are setting up FSU Scotland at the urging of our members and supporters north of the border. They are concerned about the lack of civility in public discourse in Scotland and the growing intolerance for people who challenge institutional orthodoxies, particularly when it comes to women’s rights. This culture of intolerance is likely to become more entrenched when the Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act is activated, so the defenders of free speech need to start organising now. The fact that such an impressive group of people have joined the Advisory Council of FSU Scotland from across the political spectrum shows how deep and widespread this concern is.

I’m pleased to join cross party politicians, writers & academics on the advisory board of the Free ⁦@SpeechUnion⁩ as it launches in Scotland. It’s important to resist inroads on our right to #FreedomOfSpeech under Art. 10 #ECHR https://t.co/Trl0XI7pWf

— Joanna Cherry KC (@joannaccherry) April 12, 2022

Stop Press: You can read additional coverage of the launch in the Scottish Daily Express.

Stop Press 2: Any Scottish readers interested in joining the Free Speech Union can do so here.

Stop Press 3: You can see the Free Speech Union’s Scottish page here.

Tags: FSU Scotland

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32 Comments
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David Beaton
David Beaton
3 years ago

Best news from Scotland for two nightmare years.

“Cancel Culture” and the all out assault on our basic values and freedoms simply must must be stopped if what is still left of our civilisation is to survive.

Last edited 3 years ago by David Beaton
50
0
fla56
fla56
3 years ago
Reply to  David Beaton

True but welcoming in esp current SNP members is surely inviting the fox into the henhouse -I remain to be convinced that any SNP member has anything other than selfish desires for the FSU

12
-1
Hugh
Hugh
3 years ago
Reply to  fla56

I remember a story about an SNP MSP who went to work on Ash Wednesday with ashes on her forehead. In the days of I Like Salmon, they were quite conciliatory towards churchgoers. With things as they are now, I can certainly believe that some members would feel they have reason supporting the FSU. As almost all separatist activists in Scotland seem to coalesce around the SNP, presumably they are quite a “broad church”, and don’t all agree with some of the first fish’s nonsense. I assume that there are separatists who see her as an embarrassment to the independence movement and to Scotland.

Last edited 3 years ago by Hugh
3
0
Rogerborg
Rogerborg
3 years ago
Reply to  fla56

That leapt out at me too, but Sillars is an old (old) school Nat who actually worked in the real world before getting into politics, in stark contrast to the carefully groomed career creatures infesting the party now.

He needs to be treated with caution, but repentant sinners can make the most zealous converts.

3
0
James Macpherson
James Macpherson
3 years ago
Reply to  fla56

Yes, I was perplexed, to say the least, by something so utterly out of character for anyone associated with the SNP, however peripherally, never mind someone so close to the centre. I’d treat with caution . . .

(I speak as a Scot)

0
0
RedhotScot
RedhotScot
3 years ago
Reply to  David Beaton

Nickerless will be scheming already.

7
0
ComeTheRevolution
ComeTheRevolution
3 years ago

Its very disheartening to see so many on here have swallowed the big lie about a novel virus based on unvalidated fraudulent tests and not a lot else. Here is another piece of the puzzle showing how the whole thing really is just a massive scam – rebranding old illnesses, plus not mentioned in this article, killing people and calling it covid – ventilators and remdesevir and midazolam for example – plus outright death certificate forgery to bump up the numbers. All very well known in these parts, but still most believe there is a novel virus among all this crime and deceit. Its unreal.

Was Covid19 a re-branded flu?
https://off-guardian.org/2022/04/12/was-covid19-a-re-branded-flu/

20
-5
RW
RW
3 years ago
Reply to  ComeTheRevolution

No in the sense that it was/ is similar but not identical. Yes in the sense that it was of similar importance (or lack thereof).

8
0
fla56
fla56
3 years ago
Reply to  ComeTheRevolution

’CTR’ please take COVID-denial pseudo-science drivel like this somewhere else, this is a facts-driven site for the scientifically-minded

Or you might just be a COVID-fanatic trying to spread false conspiracy ideas to tarnish the site? Who knows…

3
-14
Nessimmersion
Nessimmersion
3 years ago
Reply to  fla56

Why are you denying the massive overuse of Midazolam?

Remember so far the tinfoil hat conspiracy theorists are up 52 – nil

8
0
RedhotScot
RedhotScot
3 years ago
Reply to  Nessimmersion

More being added by the day.

6
0
Hugh
Hugh
3 years ago
Reply to  Nessimmersion

Goodness, you’ve managed to keep count – well done!

3
0
CovidiotAntiMasker
CovidiotAntiMasker
3 years ago
Reply to  ComeTheRevolution

Interesting article, certainly a very plausible theory, the flu did seem to do a disappearing act, an off duty GP assured me this anomaly was due to social distancing, masks and lockdowns etc.

3
0
Rogerborg
Rogerborg
3 years ago
Reply to  ComeTheRevolution

tl;dr summary: “Ignore the many labs who have independently sequenced SARS-COV-2 and determined that it is indeed a novel coronavirus. Based solely on under-reporting of influenza, I assume and therefore assert as a fact that SARS-COV-2 does not exist.”

It’s fine to be sceptical, but that’s not worth reading in full.

0
0
TheRightToArmBears
TheRightToArmBears
3 years ago
Reply to  ComeTheRevolution

You really have swallowed the scam, because those of us who really know call it the common cold.

0
0
thinkcriticall
thinkcriticall
3 years ago

URGENT!!! Comment on the WHO treaty **NOW**
Comments CLOSE in less than 21 hours from now! It will take you <2 minutes to do. Here’s exactly how to comment.

https://stevekirsch.substack.com/p/urgent-comment-on-the-who-treaty?r=o7iqo&s=w&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web

4
0
Hugh
Hugh
3 years ago
Reply to  thinkcriticall

Done (again, for what it’s worth. I suspect that big pharma and their collaborators will find ways of punishing rebel states).
Is this what the New World Order looks like?

Last edited 3 years ago by Hugh
3
0
Rogerborg
Rogerborg
3 years ago
Reply to  thinkcriticall

Why do you keep calling this a “treaty”?

0
0
John Dee
John Dee
3 years ago
Reply to  Rogerborg

If memory serves (and it usually doesn’t) that’s the term used by the WHO.

0
0
Lockdown Sceptic
Lockdown Sceptic
3 years ago

Tuesday Horse & Groom roundabout) Bracknell (Downshire Way Broad Lane & Bagshot Road) a great response and 2 new recruits for Bracknell Stand in the Park on Sunday.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FKFjjWDA0-8
The video is from Brian who joined us from Woking!

Stand for freedom with our Yellow Boards By The Road next events 

Thursday 14th April 3pm to 4pm
Yellow Boards
Junction A329 Reading Rd 
& Station Approach
Wokingham RG41 1EH 

Monday 18th April 2pm to 3pm
Yellow Boards
Junction A3095 Warfield Rd/
A329 Millennium Way
Bracknell RG12 2XT

Stand in the Park Sundays from 10am – make friends & keep sane 

Wokingham Howard Palmer Gardens 
(Cockpit Path car park free on Sunday) 
Sturges Rd RG40 2HD   

Bracknell  
South Hill Park, Rear Lawn, RG12 7PA

Telegram http://t.me/astandintheparkbracknell

9
-2
huxleypiggles
huxleypiggles
3 years ago

I wish all involved in FSU Scotland the very best.

At least this will wind up Krankie.

12
0
CynicalRealist
CynicalRealist
3 years ago

On the subject of Scotland, there’s an article in the Guardian today from one of Scotland’s chief Covid-mongers: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/apr/12/herd-immunity-covid-reinfection-virus-world

Got to keep that hysteria level whipped up!

6
0
Hugh
Hugh
3 years ago
Reply to  CynicalRealist

Devi Sridhar – how did I guess. Wants locking up with Fauci and Schwab.

9
0
TheRightToArmBears
TheRightToArmBears
3 years ago
Reply to  Hugh

Along with all the other dirty crooks in Westminster.

0
0
watersider
watersider
3 years ago
Reply to  CynicalRealist

Please give us a clue, as I would not commit the sin of linking to that rag , especially during Holy Week.

0
0
Rogerborg
Rogerborg
3 years ago
Reply to  watersider

“Testing, testing, testing. Keep those numbers up, keep the panic going, a deadly new variant could arrive at any second.”

2
0
huxleypiggles
huxleypiggles
3 years ago
Reply to  Rogerborg

I assume from the above comment that Sridhar has had the nod from Billy that his new brew is about to be released.

Hiding in plain sight.

4
0
RW
RW
3 years ago
Reply to  watersider

$generic_corona_bs should be sufficient.

0
0
RW
RW
3 years ago
Reply to  CynicalRealist

Strangely, I’ve been getting occasional colds for as long as I can remember. From what planet does The Devi[tm] come from if she thinks this must be news?

0
0
nicknorman
nicknorman
3 years ago

Toby deserves our thanks.

9
0
watersider
watersider
3 years ago
Reply to  nicknorman

Yes thanks Toby, we enjoyed your Bafta appearance with Mark Steyn.

3
0
Backlash
Backlash
3 years ago

Free speech with Ayatollah Krankie at the helm? No chance

0
0

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