The College Fix

Connie Shaw’s case is part of a larger ‘free speech crisis’ in the UK, advocates say

A free speech organization has initiated a judicial review against the British government after student Connie Shaw was suspended from a university radio station for her “gender critical” views.

Shaw, (pictured) a third-year philosophy and theology student at Leeds University in England, received a “notice of suspension” by the university’s student government union Oct. 30 after she spoke out against the transgender ideology on her podcast.

The student government argued her opinions harmed the student radio station’s reputation and “values,” according to a report by the Free Speech Union, a non-partisan advocacy organization in Britain.

Ben Jones, a spokesperson from the Free Speech Union, told The College Fix that free speech is becoming extinct in the UK’s higher education system.

“The FSU has been supporting Connie since the beginning and we will do everything we deem necessary in order to secure a just outcome for her,” Jones said in a recent email. “Cases like Connie’s have shown time and time again that there continues to be a free speech crisis on campuses in Britain.”

Jones said the primary way for fixing censorship in the UK is to pursue legal action, especially in regard to Shaw’s situation.

“The legal duties on the higher education sector and student unions with respect to freedom of speech need to be a lot tougher, that’s why we’ve launched a judicial review against the Government’s decision to suspend the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act,” Jones said.

Shaw was suspended from the Leeds Student Radio on Nov. 29 after the student union determined that she “brought the radio station into disrepute” because of her “social media activity,” according to a report in The Telegraph.

On Shaw’s behalf, Jones’ free speech organization also is appealing the student union’s decision to ban her from the radio show, arguing her “gender critical” views should have been protected by the Equality Act of 2010, the article states.

The 20-year-old student became the target of backlash after writing a blog post on Irish comedian Graham Linehan’s blog. Linehan is an outspoken critic of transgender activism and has faced criticism for voicing his opinions on X and his Substack, The Glinner Update.

Shaw’s article, “Gender Madness at the University of Leeds,” scrutinized the university’s “gender expression fund,” which gives grants to transgender students to purchase “chest-binders” and makeup.

Shaw also interviewed Linehan on her podcast and a “detransitioner” in another episode.

Leeds University’s media relations office did not respond to The Fix‘s requests for comment via email over the past two weeks, asking about Shaw’s case and the right to free speech on campus. Shaw also did not respond to The Fix‘s request for comment.

A week after her suspension, Shaw shared the LSR committee’s decision to terminate her leadership position in a post on social media.

After being suspended from Leeds Student Radio and investigated by Leeds SU, I have been permanently removed from my committee position. I believe I have been removed due to my gender critical views.

The Free Speech Union @SpeechUnion and I believe the removal amounts to direct… https://t.co/FyG94yewgK

— Connie Shaw (@_ConnieShaw) December 5, 2024

Advocates say her case is representative of a much wider problem with free speech in the UK.

Lois McLatchie Miller, a spokesperson for the Alliance Defending Freedom UK, told The Fix via email that censorship has become a major problem across Britain.

While ADF is not connected to Shaw’s case, the conservative legal organization is involved in similar free speech cases in the country.

“Whether it’s in the halls of our once-esteemed universities, or on the public streets nearby abortion facilities, a culture of censorship has made it incredibly difficult to have important conversations in Britain,” Miller said.

The ADF spokesperson said Shaw is an inspiration because she is using her voice to help others by not succumbing to societally enforced censorship.

“Yet the stories of brave individuals like Connie, who speak up for their legal right to express the truth, are waking up the public to the problem – and empowering more people to give voice to their beliefs. That gives me hope,” Miller said.

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IMAGE: Connie Shaw/Substack

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