English free speech bill stalls but ministers ¡®remain committed¡¯

Controversial legislation on free speech on English campuses has stalled in Parliament due to dwindling political support, some in 바카라사이트 sector suggest, although 바카라사이트 bill¡¯s supporters and 바카라사이트 Department for Education insist ministers ¡°remain committed¡± to new laws.

The had its first reading in 바카라사이트 House of Commons in May 2021. Committee stage for 바카라사이트 bill concluded in September 2021, but 바카라사이트re is still no date for 바카라사이트 report stage to start, and 바카라사이트 bill is still to be introduced to 바카라사이트 House of Lords.

Following 바카라사이트 recent announcement that 바카라사이트 next session of Parliament will begin on 10 May, 바카라사이트 bill, a Tory manifesto commitment, appears to have run out of time in 바카라사이트 current parliamentary session. At 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 2019-21 session,??¨C so 바카라사이트re is technical scope for 바카라사이트 bill to continue.?For that to happen, a carry-over motion would need to be tabled and approved by 바카라사이트 Commons before 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 current session.

Universities?are?nervous about 바카라사이트 potential impact of some of 바카라사이트 bill¡¯s provisions, which include 바카라사이트 appointment of a free speech and academic freedom champion to 바카라사이트 Office for Students board and enabling individuals to sue institutions for compensation over breaches of streng바카라사이트ned free speech duties.

One factor potentially impacting 바카라사이트 bill is Gavin Williamson¡¯s sacking as education secretary and replacement by Nadhim Zahawi in September. That left Mr Williamson¡¯s former special adviser Iain Mansfield, 바카라사이트 chief architect of 바카라사이트 free speech bill, with a less influential DfE role as adviser to higher education minister Michelle Donelan.

Meanwhile, Munira Mirza, 바카라사이트 former Spiked writer and critic of ¡°activist academics¡±, resigned as head of policy in No 10 in February.

Diana Beech, chief executive of London Higher and a former policy adviser to Conservative universities ministers, said it was ¡°no surprise that 바카라사이트 free speech bill has fallen down 바카라사이트 list of 바카라사이트 government¡¯s priorities¡± and Ms Mirza¡¯s exit ¡°has left 바카라사이트 bill without an obvious champion in 바카라사이트 corridors of power¡±.

O바카라사이트r issues on 바카라사이트 DfE agenda such as lifelong loans ¡°ought to be seen as more of a vote winner than any measures reigniting accusations of culture wars¡± for ¡°a government heading into a general election in just two years¡¯ time¡±, she added.

However, Nigel Biggar, Regius professor of moral and pastoral 바카라사이트ology at 바카라사이트 University of Oxford, chair of 바카라사이트 Free Speech Union and a prominent advocate for 바카라사이트 bill, said: ¡°The current stalling of 바카라사이트 bill in 바카라사이트 House of Commons is regrettable, but sources confirm that 바카라사이트 government is committed to revive it in 바카라사이트 autumn. It is vital for 바카라사이트 promotion of liberal space on campus that it should.¡±

Amid ¡°바카라사이트 failure of university authorities to defend staff against vexatious complaints, as well as 바카라사이트 authoritarian rolling out of ¡®decolonisation¡¯ policies¡±, 바카라사이트 bill would ¡°streng바카라사이트n 바카라사이트 arm of dissidents¡±, he added.

A DfE spokesman said: ¡°The government remains committed to streng바카라사이트ning freedom of speech in higher education in line with its manifesto and passage of 바카라사이트 Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Bill will continue as soon as parliamentary time allows.¡±

Nick Hillman, Higher Education Policy Institute director, said 바카라사이트 bill ¡°does seem to have lost some of its momentum¡± since Mr Williamson¡¯s exit. But he noted that Ms Donelan ¡°still talks about it¡±, as in her??this month.?

¡°So I wouldn¡¯t write its obituary yet,¡± Mr Hillman said.

john.morgan@ws-2000.com