Government ‘to implement’ England’s campus free speech act

‘Statutory tort’ allowing for universities to be sued over alleged free speech breaches likely to be removed when legislation is reintroduced later this month, according to reports

一月 15, 2025

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Source: No 10 Downing Street/Lauren Hurley

The Westminster government is set to revive highly anticipated university free speech legislation, according to reports.

The Higher Education Freedom of Speech Act, which passed through Parliament under 바카라사이트 Conservative government, was put on hold after Labour came into power last year, to 바카라사이트 dismay of campaigners.

Labour decided to shelve 바카라사이트 act in July because of concerns over 바카라사이트 impact on hard-up universities, with education secretary Bridget Phillipson stating that 바카라사이트 decision would “unburden” universities from 바카라사이트 controversial legislation.

But and have reported that 바카라사이트 legislation is expected to be reintroduced later this month. It is anticipated that 바카라사이트 act may be “watered down”, after one government source told 바카라사이트 Telegraph that 바카라사이트?Tories had left an “unworkable dog’s dinner”.

“Academic freedom matters more than students not being offended,” 바카라사이트 source said. “That’s why we are taking forward 바카라사이트 legislation – but crucially we are making sure it works.

“While 바카라사이트 Conservatives chased headlines and prosecuted culture wars, this government is getting on delivering 바카라사이트 change that matters.”

Under 바카라사이트?act, which was originally due to be introduced last August, universities and students’ unions were set to face fines if free speech standards were deemed inadequate, and would have required 바카라사이트 Office for Students to intervene much more on 바카라사이트 issue.

It also included 바카라사이트 introduction of a complaints and compensation scheme for students, staff and visiting speakers who?found free speech provision unsatisfactory.

But sources said 바카라사이트 government was expected to scrap 바카라사이트 compensation mechanism, known as 바카라사이트 “statutory tort”, after universities argued that it would place additional burdens on 바카라사이트 sector?during a financial crisis.?

Campaign groups have been lobbying 바카라사이트 government to introduce 바카라사이트 act since its decision to pause it, with a coalition of free speech?advocates?writing to Phillipson last week warning?that progress on free speech was regressing following 바카라사이트 announcement, and that work at some universities to foster on campus-debate had been “put on hold”.?

The letter said that UCL, for example, had been in 바카라사이트 process of developing an updated code of practice for free speech to make it compliant with 바카라사이트 legislation, which was 바카라사이트n put on hold following Phillipson’s announcement.?

The latest reports come ahead of a judicial review on 바카라사이트 decision to pause 바카라사이트 act, brought by 바카라사이트 Free Speech Union. A hearing in this case was due to?be held on 23 January.

Concerns over university free speech have?increased over 바카라사이트 past year, after Jo Phoenix, a former academic at 바카라사이트 Open University, won a tribunal in which she claimed she was forced to quit because of a “hostile environment”?created by colleagues who opposed her gender-critical views.

Concerns have also been raised over 바카라사이트 handling of debates surrounding 바카라사이트 Israel-Palestine conflict, with supporters of 바카라사이트 legislation arguing that universities need guidance on how to handle controversial issues on campus.

juliette.rowsell@ws-2000.com

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