🎙️ NEW FSU PODCAST EPISODE “I can’t tell you how many hours I have spent talking about toilets to some of our MPs.” On this week’s episode of the FSU Podcast, FSU External Affairs Officer @_ConnieShaw is joined by Dr Zoe Holloway, chair of Liberal Voice for Women. A Lib Dem activist, scientist and gender-critical feminist, Zoe spoke at her party’s 2026 conference, arguing that women’s sex-based rights should continue to be recognised under the Equality Act. The conference rejected her plea. Zoe believes most Lib Dem members and voters agree with her, but that much of the party’s senior leadership has been captured by leading trans activists, some of whom were influential in Stonewall. She shares her experience of fighting censorship and discrimination within her own party. Watch the full episode on the FSU YouTube channel 👇

Labour backlash over Conversion Practices Bill as former health minister raises ‘serious concerns’ about parents being prosecuted Preet Kaur Gill MP, who served as a health minister earlier this year, has warned that parents could face prosecution under the draft legislation. They could face up to five years in prison for conversations with their gender-questioning children, including trying to dissuade them from pursuing medical interventions before the age of 18. Ms Gill told The Telegraph: “Nobody should ever be subjected to abuse because of their LGBT identity. The intentions of the bill – seeking to protect vulnerable people – are laudable. “Yet there are serious concerns about the draft text that undermine what has become clear in recent research about the vulnerability of children exploring gender ideology.” She added: “As the Cass Review advised, parents and guardians must have freedom to take a cautious approach when navigating sensitive topics with their children. The evidence shows that devices such as chest-binders or puberty blockerscan cause long-term bodily damage. “But by criminalising words that amount to ‘economic’ and ‘emotional pressure’, the bill could undermine this advice from Cass, and ensnare parents who simply want to properly examine the risks involved with early ‘transition’, and where appropriate, advise against rushing into the use of such serious interventions. “It would be wrong if a bill created to protect vulnerable people would overreach into potentially causing unnecessary censorship of important and loving conversations within families.” This is an important intervention from a Labour MP and former health minister. Ms Gill, a former social worker, has said the bill amounts to “censorship” and risks undermining the findings of the 2024 Cass Review into gender care. The Shadow Women and Equalities Minister, @joymorrissey, said: “It is right that Labour backbenchers are sounding the alarm on the draft Conversion Therapy Bill. It is a complete mess and the risk of criminalising parents just for trying to support their children as advocated by Dr Cass is clearly unacceptable. “Children are being exposed to gender ideology all over social media, leading to parents needing to make difficult choices in how they support them. It cannot be right that wanting to protect their child from life-altering medical transitions leads to parents being prosecuted.” The Government denies that the bill will criminalise these conversations. But the draft legislation says conversion therapy orders can be issued if a child experiences “serious alarm or distress, which has a substantial adverse effect on their usual day-to-day activities”. The bill risks ensnaring parents, therapists and religious leaders who want to have well-intentioned conversations with gender-questioning children or share their faith’s teachings with their congregation. Last week, @SexMattersOrg wrote to Women and Equalities Minister @bphillipsonMP, warning that the bill could have a “chilling effect” if parents faced prison for trying to stop their child presenting as the opposite sex. Read more below 👇

Andy Burnham has met Muslim community leaders in Downing Street and accused his political rivals of using “completely unacceptable language”. The Prime Minister was accompanied by Angela Rayner, the Communities Secretary who began work on the Islamophobia definition, now repackaged as “anti-Muslim hostility”. Speaking to Muslim leaders around the Cabinet table, Mr Burnham said: “We want to counter any form of hatred, discrimination, Islamophobia, wherever we find it, and work with you to bring forward an agenda that says that to the community. “And I think perhaps the way the political debate is at times — Angela referenced some of the positions of opposition parties to us anyway — they are completely unacceptable. “And some of the language that they use about the community is unacceptable. “We just need to find ways with you to demonstrate that more and more.” This is shameless: another example of Labour accusing those who legitimately criticise Islam, its history and its practices of racism. It is also another sign of Labour chasing voters who have deserted the party in recent years — and sacrificing free speech on the altar of electoral ambition. Labour MPs have repeatedly branded opposition politicians who criticise Islam “Islamophobic”. Earlier this year, 26 Labour MPs reported Reform UK to the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) over its comments about Islam. Labour MPs also reported Conservative Shadow Justice Secretary Nick Timothy to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards and branded him “Islamophobic”. He even faced calls to resign from then Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer after criticising a mass Muslim prayer event in Trafalgar Square. This is madness. Read more below 👇

The Conversion Practices Bill is one of the most dangerous, illiberal and invasive pieces of legislation ever to come before MPs. It will criminalise well-intentioned conversations between parents and gender-confused children, and between religious leaders and those seeking guidance on their faith’s teachings about sex, gender and marriage. Parents who try to dissuade their children — at any age — from embarking on dangerous, irreversible and life-changing medical pathways could face five years in prison. Unlike similar bills introduced in the past, this Bill contains no carve-outs to protect these vital conversations. It is not the role of the state or ministers to dictate what parents can or cannot say to their children around the dinner table. In a letter to the pre-legislative scrutiny committee, the Equalities Minister even had the audacity to claim that the Bill respects parental responsibility. It does not. The committee will hear evidence from witnesses for the first time tomorrow, and has now opened its call for evidence. The Free Speech Union is calling on the Prime Minister to drop this Bill. It is an assault on free speech and religious freedom. Watch FSU Campaigns Officer @MaxHThompson and sign our petition below 👇

📚 KNOW YOUR SPEECH RIGHTS ON CAMPUS Since August 2025, universities have been under a strict legal duty to protect freedom of speech on campus. This duty comes from the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act 2023 — one of the most consequential pieces of free speech legislation passed in the last 15 years. More and more students are getting into trouble with their universities or peers for expressing entirely lawful views. The Free Speech Union has created a guide to help students understand their speech rights on campus. Watch FSU Education and Engagement Officer Vinay Kapoor and read the briefing guide below 👇