A primary school teacher who told a Muslim pupil that 'Britain is still a Christian state' was dismissed and reported to safeguarding authorities after the comment was deemed hurtful to Islam, triggering a police investigation into an alleged hate crime. The incident occurred after the teacher reprimanded boys for washing their feet in school sinks — an action linked to prayer preparation. He reportedly explained that the King is head of the Church of England and that Islam is a minority religion in the UK. Though the police later dropped the case, the school dismissed him, and a safeguarding officer recommended he be barred from working with children. The teacher successfully appealed the ban and is now suing the local authority with the support of the Free Speech Union (FSU). Lawyers argue that prayer had been informally banned on the playground and that expectations around behaviour had been unclear. Lord Toby Young of the FSU said it was alarming that stating an 'incontestably true' fact could lead to such consequences, warning of growing threats to free speech within education.

Home secretary Shabana Mahmood has branded Elon Musk’s language at a London rally 'abhorrent’, after he warned of violence linked to uncontrolled migration and called for Parliament’s dissolution. Mahmood insisted: 'No-one gets to mess with British democracy’, stressing that Britain is a tolerant and diverse nation. Musk’s remarks, delivered in conversation with activist Tommy Robinson at the 150,000-strong 'Unite The Kingdom' march, were condemned across the political spectrum. Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said Musk was 'deeply irresponsible, deeply dangerous’, while Downing Street called his words inflammatory and threatening to public order. Debate also arose over whether Musk’s Tesla and energy ventures should receive UK contracts, with critics urging government review. Nigel Farage defended Musk’s appeal to 'fight' through free speech and elections, though others accused him of fuelling division. As protests and counter-protests highlighted national tensions, Mahmood affirmed that English identity embraces both long heritage and diverse backgrounds.

The Metropolitan Police have confirmed that 67 people have been charged under section 13 of the Terrorism Act for allegedly showing support for Palestine Action, a proscribed organisation. Those charged, aged between 21 and 83, were arrested during central London protests on 5 and 12 July. They face a maximum sentence of six months’ imprisonment and are due to appear for trial in September and October. Since the group’s proscription on 5 July, more than 700 arrests have been made nationwide. Critics argue the ban infringes free speech, but Yvette Cooper  insists Palestine Action has been responsible for serious crimes, including aggravated burglary and violent disorder. Commander Dominic Murphy rejected claims that protests had stretched police resources, stressing that law enforcement remained robust. The group has been granted permission to challenge the ban in the High Court in November, setting up a legal battle over the boundaries between protest and terrorism.

A long-running legal battle has concluded after the UK Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal concerning Kristie Higgs, a Christian teacher dismissed in 2018 for expressing her views on gender and sexuality in private Facebook posts. Higgs had shared a petition challenging government RSE policies and commented on two children’s books promoting gender fluidity. Though her comments were not related to her teaching, she was dismissed by the school, which claimed the issue was her language, not her beliefs. However, in February 2025, the Court of Appeal ruled that her dismissal amounted to unlawful religious discrimination, affirming that belief-based expression outside work is protected under the Equality Act. The Supreme Court’s refusal to revisit the case makes this ruling final. Higgs expressed relief, calling it a victory for Christian free speech. The Christian Legal Centre, which backed her case, hailed the decision as a landmark precedent safeguarding freedom of belief and speech for Christians in the UK workplace and beyond.

As UK-US trade talks progress under the Trump administration, pressure is mounting on Keir Starmer to roll back UK hate speech laws, particularly those protecting LGBT+ groups, as a precondition for a trade deal. US vice president JD Vance has reportedly made free speech a 'red line’, linking Britain’s legal stance on hate speech with broader concerns over the decline of Western civilisation and the erosion of civil liberties. The Biden administration had pursued a different tone, but now the USA is demanding that Britain repeal digital safety laws and abandon plans for online censorship, particularly after high-profile incidents involving arrests on social media and pro-life advocates. Labour leaders, however, have pushed back, stating hate speech laws are not part of the negotiations. While both governments hope to remove tariffs and foster growth in future industries like AI and biotech, this clash over values and legal protections presents a significant obstacle.

A judge has thrown out the case against Christian preacher Karandeep Mamman, who was arrested after being threatened and assaulted by an Islamic mob while publicly sharing his faith. Despite being harassed and surrounded in Walsall town centre, Mamman was later prosecuted for causing religiously aggravated harassment. His preaching, which included critiquing Islam’s depiction of Jesus, angered a group of 20-30 people who threatened to beat him and cut his throat. CCTV footage confirmed that he was the victim of aggression, yet police charged him instead of those who attacked him. His lawyers successfully argued that prosecuting him violated free speech rights, and the judge ruled not guilty after the prosecution withdrew evidence. Mamman praised God for the outcome, warning that Christians must not be silenced for publicly sharing the Gospel. As free speech in the UK faces growing challenges, believers must pray for boldness in proclaiming Christ.

Christians gathered in London to rally for free speech as the Court of Appeal heard the case of Kristie Higgs, a Christian school worker who expressed concerns in 2019 about LGBT+ education at her son's CofE primary school. Higgs was dismissed from the school for ‘gross misconduct’ after sharing Facebook posts criticising the 'No Outsiders in Our School' programme, which introduced topics such as gender identity and same-sex relationships. Following an anonymous complaint, Higgs was subjected to a disciplinary hearing and subsequently dismissed for allegedly bringing the school into disrepute. Supported by the Christian Legal Centre, she argued her dismissal violated her rights to religious freedom and free speech. Though a tribunal initially ruled against her, a successful appeal led to a rehearing. Now, Higgs seeks a final ruling from the Court of Appeal to prevent another tribunal and protect Christian employees’ free speech rights. The hearing’s outcome could significantly impact religious expression in the workplace.

From 31 October, safe zones around abortion clinics in England and Wales will take effect, prohibiting protests within 150 metres of these facilities under the Public Order Act. The new law, which received royal assent in May last year, aims to prevent harassment, intimidation, or obstruction of women seeking abortion services, as well as clinic staff. It is now illegal to engage in behaviour that intentionally or recklessly influences someone’s decision regarding abortion services. Silent prayer may also fall under this ban, a contentious point raised by anti-abortion groups who argue it infringes on their rights to freedom of expression and religious belief. Campaigners advocating for the ban, such as the British Pregnancy Advisory Service, argue that it is necessary for ensuring the safety and dignity of women. The maximum penalty for violating the law will be an unlimited fine. See

On Brazil’s independence day, former president Jair Bolsonaro led thousands in a protest in Sao Paulo against the country's ban on the social media platform X. The ban was ordered by supreme court justice Alexandre de Moraes after X, owned by Elon Musk, failed to appoint a legal representative in Brazil as required. De Moraes has also had ongoing disputes with Musk over misinformation. The supreme court unanimously upheld the ban, sparking anger from far-right supporters who viewed it as an infringement on free speech. Bolsonaro, a key figure in Brazil’s far-right, called for the protest, describing it as a fight for democracy and free expression. Bolsonaro has a history of clashes with De Moraes, especially after the 2022 elections when he spread misinformation about electoral fraud, leading to protests and a violent assault on government buildings. De Moraes eventually banned Bolsonaro from office until 2030 for his role in spreading false information.

Concerns about free speech regulation have resurfaced after Elon Musk bought Twitter. Musk’s vow to ‘defeat spam bots’ and make Twitter’s algorithm public is welcomed by many, including Matt Batten, director of communication at Llandaff Church in Wales. He is pleased that there will be an edit button and that spam bots will be removed, and sees algorithms being made public as bringing greater transparency. However, his scepticism increases when it comes to free speech. He told Premier, ‘It all sounds fantastic, and we champion democracy, but whose freedom of speech?’ Political activists also expect Musk's ownership of Twitter will mean less moderation and the reinstatement of banned individuals, including Donald Trump. There are questions on what the deal will mean for Twitter's China content policy, as Musk's Tesla relies heavily on China for production and vehicle sales. Freedom of speech does not mean freedom to hate or insult others.