JD Vance's Valentine Speech

In a remarkably frank speech at the Munich Security Conference, US Vice President JD Vance warned that the greatest threat to Western democracies is not external aggression, but the erosion of free speech within them. Britain, he argued, was leading the charge in policing thought, with other European nations close behind. Invoking the Cold War, Mr Vance said that the West once defined itself in opposition to regimes that criminalised dissent and censored ‘heretical’ views – but now its governments are adopting such tactics themselves. Freddie Attenborough has written about the speech in detail here. As if on cue, The Telegraph reported on Saturday that the closure of two French TV stations had been confirmed by the Council of State, the Republic’s highest administrative court. The FSU was proud to have a presence at the Association for Responsible Citizenship (ARC) Conference 2025, alongside many other civil rights and free expression advocacy groups. A key moment at the conference was the Free Speech dinner where our General Secretary, Lord Young, delivered the opening speech. The conference also provided the perfect platform to announce the launch of FSU International – an initiative designed to coordinate the efforts of existing FSUs around the world, and to support those looking to set up new ones. To drive the initiative forward, we’ve appointed Jon Benjamin, a former British Ambassador, to lead FSU International. On Wednesday 19th February, in the heart of Westminster, the FSU marked its fifth anniversary with a packed gathering of supporters and donors. In just five years, the FSU has established itself as a leading voice for free expression, standing up for those targeted for wrongthink in an increasingly censorious culture while ensuring that the right to speak one’s mind is defended in the workplace and the public square. We end with a round-up of forthcoming FSU events. ‘That's Debatable!’  is edited by Jason Clift.