Senior figures at Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service, under the command of Andy Burnham, have cautioned firefighters who support Reform UK over their political views. In a further chilling assault on free speech, staff have also effectively been urged in an email to report colleagues who support Reform. Fire brigade bosses have also said they are seeking legal advice on what to do about firefighters who decide to stand as Reform UK candidates. This is despite the fact that, unlike police officers, there is no legal bar preventing firefighters from participating in national or local politics. In their email, fire brigade bosses Mr Petch and Ms Ahmed said: ’We are aware that some staff members have chosen to represent Reform UK in their local areas. We know this may cause concern within our network and wider. ’The individuals involved have been spoken to, to make it clear that as members of GMFRS (Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service) our core values and professional behaviours must be displayed at all times. ’The service is currently seeking formal legal guidance… to ensure we are protected from all perspectives and that our inclusive culture remains safe. ‘Our priority is and always will be ensuring that every member of this network feels supported, respected and safe at work.’ They also confirmed that they would be consulting the Fire Brigades Union on the matter. In his role as Mayor of Greater Manchester, @AndyBurnhamGM — who is also tipped by some to be a future Prime Minister if he wins the Makerfield by-election — is also Greater Manchester’s Fire Commissioner, responsible for overseeing the service. General Secretary of the Free Speech Union, Lord Young of Acton, has now written to Mr Burnham to raise concerns about the chilling effect this has on free speech. Lord Young said that the ‘clear implication’ of the email from the fire brigade bosses was that ‘representing Reform UK constitutes an inherent threat to the institution’s culture and values and is to be treated as morally suspect’. He also highlighted that no action appears to have been taken against firefighters who support other political parties. The letter also states: ‘Staff are further invited to report colleagues who support any groups that go against the service’s values, which effectively amounts to an instruction to inform on colleagues for their political beliefs. ’The email will create a chilling effect on the free speech of GMFRS employees who support Reform. ’The practical effect is that a public fire and rescue service governed by you is treating the lawful political activity of your electoral opponents as a reputational risk to their employer. ‘Regardless of whether this reflects your instruction, it reflects your governance; and a public office-holder who permits his institution to demonise or chill the speech and political activity of those who support his principal electoral rival cannot claim to be discharging that office with the impartiality it demands.’ Read more below 👇

The Free Speech Union is proud to back Royal Holloway student Brodie Mitchell, who was suspended after a joke made during a Freshers’ Fair spat. Brodie, then 19 and a self-described “non-Jewish Zionist”, responded to being called a “wannabe Jew” by the President of the Friends of Palestine Society by remarking that she was wearing a “tea towel” on her head, referring to her keffiyeh. The next day, he was suspended for nine weeks pending an investigation into “alleged conduct that could be considered hate speech”. He was removed from campus and his accommodation, while the other student faced no disciplinary action and continued her studies as normal. The Free Speech Union has supported Mr Mitchell and lodged a formal complaint with the Office for Students, raising serious concerns about Royal Holloway’s handling of free speech. Thanks to our intervention, Brodie is back on campus — but subject to onerous restrictions on who he can speak to and what he can say. This case raises serious questions about fairness and the consistent application of disciplinary standards. It also coincides with the Government advancing a definition of “anti-Muslim hatred” that risks being used to stifle legitimate criticism. Brodie is now taking his university to the High Court — and we are backing him all the way. Read more below 👇

🚨📣 FSU VICTORY! The Free Speech Union has won a landmark High Court victory against the Police Federation for unlawfully suspending police officers Richard Cooke and Rick Prior after they questioned whether the police were “institutionally racist”. The High Court ruled that the Police Federation of England and Wales (PFEW) acted unlawfully in suspending two elected Federation Chairs — and banning one from seeking re-election — over remarks they made on GB News and on social media. The Court found that the suspensions and subsequent restrictions on their ability to stand for office were unjustified, disproportionate, and in breach of their rights to free speech. Police chiefs elected to represent the views and concerns of rank-and-file officers should be able to do so without fear of punishment from unelected officials. These two officers did just that. Mr Cooke had challenged claims on social media that the police are institutionally racist. During a GB News interview, Mr Prior highlighted a serious issue: frontline officers fear being branded racist and facing disciplinary action when engaging with ethnic minority communities— a reality many officers recognise. Officers Cooke and Prior spoke out on a matter fundamental to maintaining public trust in the police. They were silenced. General Secretary of the Free Speech Union, Lord Young of Acton, said: “The Court has ruled that Mukund Krishna, CEO of the Police Federation, acted unlawfully when he suspended these two elected Chairs of Police Federation branches and banned one of them from running for re-election. I think he has no choice but to resign.” The Free Speech Union will be pursuing PFEW for costs.