A University of Leeds student suspended from hosting a radio show for expressing gender-critical beliefs has claimed that the UK is the "laughing stock of the world" for its stance on free speech.
Connie Shaw was removed from her university's radio show after voicing her view that "men can't be women", and was accused of breaching the "student union’s code of conduct".
WATCH SILENCED WITH CONNIE SHAW: HOW SHE WAS SLAMMED AS FAR-RIGHT FOR HER VIEWS
Speaking to GB News, Shaw issued a stark warning for the future of policing free speech in the UK and claimed that people are being policed for having "non-controversial views".
Discussing her ordeal, Shaw explained: "I was removed from my committee position for apparently bringing the student radio into dispute. But the reason why the investigation was started, I believe, and so does the Free Speech Union, was as a result of my gender-critical views.
Shaw claimed that the UK is the 'laughing stock of the world' with its stance on free speech
GB News
"They said to me in the interview, 'it's not about your gender-critical views, but how do you maintain an inclusive environment when your choice to publicly post your views makes some people feel included?'"
Revealing what her views were, Shaw told host Ben Leo: "My view was that men can't be women."
Criticising the Labour Government, Shaw hit out at the rise in people being charged under the Online Safety Act and cautioned that the "state is basically going to be able to decide what is true and what isn't".
She added: "It's very concerning that the state is basically going to be able to decide what is true and what isn't when we have a Prime Minister who thinks that some women can have penises, and a Foreign Secretary who thinks that men can grow a cervix.
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Shaw was removed from university radio after voicing her view that 'men can't be women'
GB News
"If it's the state who's deciding what's true and what's not true, then that is a very concerning starting point."
Noting that Starmer and Lammy's views on gender are "subjective", Shaw added: "There's this other aspect of the act where it says that if someone is found to be knowingly spreading disinformation, that is another way that it can be illegal.
"But I would like to think that Keir Starmer and David Lammy know that they're spreading disinformation."
When asked by Ben where the UK stands on the world stage with free speech in light of the Act and the Southport riots in 2024, Shaw claimed that the country is a "laughing stock" compared to other Governments.
WATCH SILENCED WITH CONNIE SHAW: HOW SHE WAS SLAMMED AS FAR-RIGHT FOR HER VIEWS
Shaw told GB News that the Labour Government 'needs to take a look at itself'
GB News
Shaw said: "I think we clearly are the laughing stock of the world for the Vice President to call us out directly and say, look, I'm worried about the threat from within. And he is absolutely right.
"We have students like me being removed from their posts for simply having very non-controversial views. You have people being arrested for burning the Koran, which is not illegal."
She concluded: "The state facilitates the falsification of sex - the Gender Recognition Act means that men can pretend to be women by law. So for the state to come out and say that they're cracking down on misinformation, I think they need to take a look at themselves."
A Leeds University Union spokesman said: "Inclusivity is one of our core values, helping to ensure that everyone can enjoy their university experience, free from discrimination.
"Due to an ongoing appeal, we are unable to comment further on this case."
