Adam Tomkins

@proftomkins.bsky.social

1.8K followers 250 following 90 posts

Professor of Law, University of Glasgow. Latest book: On The Law of Speaking Freely (Hart, 2025). Now writing about Enlightenment, democracy, and decline.

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Adam Tomkins is a British academic and politician who is the John Millar Professor of Public Law at the University of Glasgow School of Law. A member of the Scottish Conservatives, he was a Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for the Glasgow region from 2016 to 2021, when he stood down for that year's elections. .. more

Political science 58%

Law 27%

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Adam Tomkins @proftomkins.bsky.social · May 18

This is now out in the world:

Reposted by Adam Tomkins

John Smith Centre @johnsmithcentre.com · 6d

🙌 A big thank you to @proftomkins.bsky.social who joined us and a room full of students and academics last week to discuss his new book: "On the Law of Speaking Freely"!

📰 Read Centre Director @eddiebarnes.bsky.social's takeaways from the event on our blog: www.johnsmithcentre.com/news/we-simp...

A collage of photos of the "SHUT UP! Should offensive speech be free?" event: some are of John Smith Centre Director Eddie Barnes and Professor Adam Tomkins speaking at the front of the room, and some are of the audience watching them.

Adam Tomkins @proftomkins.bsky.social · 10d

In this week’s Spectator:

Reposted by Adam Tomkins

John Smith Centre @johnsmithcentre.com · 13d

🎤 “We can’t grow unless we hear from others whom we disagree with or who are telling us things we do not already know.”

@proftomkins.bsky.social speaks about free speech and why it’s important for public debate and individuals.

@uofgsocsci.bsky.social @uofglaw.bsky.social @uofglasgow.bsky.social

Adam Tomkins @proftomkins.bsky.social · 17d

Excellent 👌

Reposted by Adam Tomkins, Aileen McHarg, Kenneth A. Armstrong

Paul F Scott @paulfscott.bsky.social · 18d

Call for papers for a workshop on Economic Aspects of the Constitution: www.gla.ac.uk/media/Media_...

Adam Tomkins @proftomkins.bsky.social · 19d

Quite a day. Not only did I give my new work, on Swift and the Enlightenment Constitution, its first public outing, but Helen Dale’s deeply thoughtful review of my last project, On the Law of Speaking Freely, has been published here: lawliberty.org/book-review/...

From Heresy to Hate Speech – Helen Dale

Adam Tomkins’s book shows the knotty history and evolution of free speech debates.

lawliberty.org

Reposted by Adam Tomkins

John Smith Centre @johnsmithcentre.com · 22d

⌛️ There's still time to get your free tickets to 'SHUT UP! Should offensive speech be free?', a John Smith Centre event with @proftomkins.bsky.social.

📅 28 Oct 2025
📍 Humanities Lecture Theatre, Gilbert Scott Building
🤝 Open to @uofglasgow.bsky.social students & staff
🎟️ 👇

SHUT UP! Should offensive speech be free?

Join Professor Adam Tomkins and the John Smith Centre to examine how to navigate free speech.

www.eventbrite.co.uk

Adam Tomkins @proftomkins.bsky.social · 25d

Not 👀 as much as 🙈🙉🙊
Speech is 🥶
Justice is 🚫

Reposted by Adam Tomkins

John Smith Centre @johnsmithcentre.com · 27d

IT'S TIME TO TALK ABOUT TALKING 🗣️

In our latest blog, @eddiebarnes.bsky.social writes on the importance of open debate and discussion ahead of our event at the University of Glasgow with @proftomkins.bsky.social later this month.

Read it here 👇

IT'S TIME TO TALK ABOUT TALKING - John Smith Centre

The University of Glasgow has a longstanding reputation as a place for open political debate and discussion. John Smith – after whom our centre is named – cut his political teeth as a keen Labour…

www.johnsmithcentre.com

Reposted by Adam Tomkins

John Smith Centre @johnsmithcentre.com · 27d

📢 EVENT ANNOUNCEMENT 📢

Join us and @proftomkins.bsky.social to discuss the law and history around free speech. Open to @uofglasgow.bsky.social students and staff.

📅 28 Oct 2025
📍 Humanities Lecture Theatre, Gilbert Scott Building
🎟️ www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1818334941...

A designed graphic with text reading: "EVENT. SHUT UP! Should offensive speech be free? There has never been a more important time to talk about talking. Join Prof Adam Tomkins and the John Smith Centre to examine how to navigate free speech. 28 October 2025, 6.00-8.00pm, Humanities Lecture Theatre, Gilbert Scott Building, Glasgow. With Prof Adam Tomkins, John Millar Chair of Public Law." The graphic also shows the logos of the John Smith Centre and the University of Glasgow.

Adam Tomkins @proftomkins.bsky.social · 29d

Toadstools running wild

Adam Tomkins @proftomkins.bsky.social · Oct 6

Published today: on how to fix free speech in Britain (for those who think it may be broken) lawliberty.org/the-uks-spee...

The UK’s Speech Problem – Adam Tomkins

If free speech is broken in Britain, here’s how to fix it.

lawliberty.org

Adam Tomkins @proftomkins.bsky.social · Oct 6

I’m glad you’ve said this. I was wondering what “serious disruption to the life of the community” was doing in these provisions if it didn’t capture what the H Sec appears to be seeking to capture.

Adam Tomkins @proftomkins.bsky.social · Oct 5

It’s not an exact analogy, but the UK Govt published 15 “Scotland Analysis Papers” in 2012-14, in the run-up to the indyref, the first of which was formal legal advice on what independence would mean. Thereafter, the entirety of the UK Govt’s position on indy rested on that legal advice.

Adam Tomkins @proftomkins.bsky.social · Aug 5

A new review essay by me on free speech and true speech, published today: lawliberty.org/book-review/...

In Pursuit of True Speech – Adam Tomkins

A new history tries to highlight a middle path between free speech absolutism and pure censorship. It does not quite succeed.

lawliberty.org

Adam Tomkins @proftomkins.bsky.social · Jul 24

The only thing worse than academics running the academy is academics having to stand open-mouthed and aghast whilst they watch others running the academy. (You can add “into the ground” to the end of that sentence if you wish.)

Reposted by Mark Elliott, Adam Tomkins, Gráinne McKeever

Aileen McHarg @aileenmcharg.bsky.social · Jul 15

Another opportunity to join Durham Law School as a three-year career development fellow in public law. A great Law School and a vibrant public law community with opportunities to teach in both core and optional modules, and excellent support for research. www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DNX378/c...

Career Development Fellow in Public Law at Durham University

Searching for an academic job? Explore this Career Development Fellow in Public Law opening on jobs.ac.uk! Click to view more details and browse other academic jobs.

www.jobs.ac.uk

Adam Tomkins @proftomkins.bsky.social · Jul 12

Fewer than would have been ideal, I grant you.

Adam Tomkins @proftomkins.bsky.social · Jul 12

I read every evidence session the Committee held, and I will read the report this week coming. It was perfectly clear from the questions asked what direction the Cmte would head in, and equally clear that the Cmte would make a complete hash of it. Not Parliament’s finest brains, nor its finest hour.

Reposted by Adam Tomkins

Hart Publishing @hartpublishing.bsky.social · Jul 10

The audiobook of 'On the Law of Speaking Freely' by @proftomkins.bsky.social is out now!

The book tackles the problems of contemporary free speech law by applying the lessons of the past to address the challenges of the present.

🎧 Find out more: buff.ly/V00s6Fk

Adam Tomkins @proftomkins.bsky.social · Jul 7

For this week only, Hart are selling my book at a 30% discount, for £17.49. It’s a steal! Head over to Hart’s website to order it.

Reposted by Adam Tomkins

Hart Publishing @hartpublishing.bsky.social · Jul 3

The audiobook of 'On the Law of Speaking Freely' by @proftomkins.bsky.social is now available to pre-order!

🎧 Find out more: buff.ly/CfWyv86

Reposted by Adam Tomkins

Blog of the European Society for Comparative Legal History @esclh.bsky.social · Jul 1

BOOK: Adam TOMKINS, On the Law of Speaking Freely (London: Bloomsbury/Hart, 2025), 280 p. ISBN 9781509972104, 22,49 GB

esclh.blogspot.com/2025/07/book...

BOOK: Adam TOMKINS, On the Law of Speaking Freely (London: Bloomsbury/Hart, 2025), 280 p. ISBN 9781509972104, 22,49 GBP

(image source: Bloomsbury/Hart ) Abstract: This book tackles the most pressing problems of contemporary free speech law by examining where...

esclh.blogspot.com

Adam Tomkins @proftomkins.bsky.social · Jun 19

Good points. Is it also true that there is only so far a tree can grow before it starts to rot, or gets blown down in a gale? (How far can one extend the metaphor?)

Adam Tomkins @proftomkins.bsky.social · Jun 11

Many congrats on this, Paul. The PL team at Glasgow will support this in any way we can. Great stuff 👌

Paul F Scott @paulfscott.bsky.social · Jun 11

Pleased to have been awarded some money by the Society of Legal Scholars to do an event on 'Economic Aspects of the Constitution' later in the year. Call for papers to follow.

Reposted by Adam Tomkins

Paul F Scott @paulfscott.bsky.social · Jun 11

Pleased to have been awarded some money by the Society of Legal Scholars to do an event on 'Economic Aspects of the Constitution' later in the year. Call for papers to follow.

Adam Tomkins @proftomkins.bsky.social · Jun 6

The audiobook of On the Law of Speaking Freely will be published on 10 July (the paperback and E-book editions are out now). In advance of the audiobook being released, here’s a clip:—

m.soundcloud.com/bloomsburypu...

On the Law of Speaking Freely written and read by Adam Tomkins

Play On the Law of Speaking Freely written and read by Adam Tomkins from Bloomsbury Publishing. Play audiobooks and excerpts on SoundCloud desktop and mobile.

m.soundcloud.com

Reposted by Adam Tomkins

James Chalmers @jameschalmers.bsky.social · May 29

Likely not wholly coincidental, but I see Hart have published not one but two books on free speech today (one by my colleague @proftomkins.bsky.social): likely a nice review essay opportunity for someone. (Here: www.bloomsbury.com/uk/on-the-la... and here: www.bloomsbury.com/uk/free-spee...)

Cover of Tomkins, On the Law of Speaking Freely

Adam Tomkins @proftomkins.bsky.social · May 21

Oh. I didn’t know this. Thanks 🙏

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