I was very lucky to be able to attend the Free Speech Union’s Scottish launch – a much needed event – and a much needed move for Scotland.

The Free Speech Union offer support to anyone who has faced penalty for exercising their right to free speech. This is a right that has become increasingly threatened, especially in Scotland where the government is attempting to implement restrictive legislation regarding acceptable speech.

I have previously spoken at a Free Speech Union event about the chilling impact of the Scottish government’s policies on our children – a summary of which was recently published in The Critic. However, much more work needs to be done to challenge the restrictive and controlling nature of the SNP’s legislation, and the Free Speech Union will no doubt be helping us to lead to the charge.

If you are concerned about being penalised for exercising your right to free speech, please consider joining – where professional Unions can fail to support their own members if they are on the ‘wrong side’ of fashionable opinion, the Free Speech Union will offer support and legal counsel regardless of your perspective.