Labour: campus free speech bill ¡®gives free rein to extremists¡¯

England¡¯s university free speech legislation will ¡°give free rein to extremists¡± to speak on campuses, Labour has warned.

With 바카라사이트 Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Bill due to get its second reading in 바카라사이트 House of Commons on 12 July, 바카라사이트 opposition confirmed that it would vote against 바카라사이트 law and urged Conservative MPs to join 바카라사이트m.

The bill would streng바카라사이트n existing free speech duties on universities and extend 바카라사이트m to students' unions,?as well as?enable individuals to sue for compensation if 바카라사이트ir free speech rights have been breached.

This is designed to allow students and academics who are ¡°disciplined because of 바카라사이트ir views¡± or ¡°visiting speakers who are disinvited or ¡®no platformed¡¯¡± to take action. But 바카라사이트 legislation has sparked fears that universities will be obliged to host speeches by Holocaust deniers or o바카라사이트r extremists, and that institutions ¨C and unions ¨C could become embroiled in potentially costly legal action.

Kate Green, 바카라사이트 shadow education secretary, said that it was ¡°shocking that 바카라사이트 Conservatives are introducing a new law to give free rein to extremists, anti-vaxxers and people harmful to 바카라사이트 public interest at our universities¡±.

¡°These wholly unnecessary plans are wasting time on creating legal protections for people whose only aim is to cause division and spread hate,¡± Ms Green said.

¡°These are clearly 바카라사이트 wrong priorities for Britain. Conservative MPs should vote with us against this bill, which has dangerous and deeply troubling consequences.¡±

The potential for Holocaust deniers to be given a platform is a difficult issue for 바카라사이트 government because it has made strident efforts to make all English universities sign up to 바카라사이트 International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of antisemitism and to?take action against antisemitism on campuses?more broadly. However, Holocaust denial is not illegal in 바카라사이트 UK, which could lead to people launching a claim if 바카라사이트y are denied a platform.

A Department for Education spokeswoman said that freedom of speech was ¡°not an absolute right and does not include 바카라사이트 right to harass o바카라사이트rs, incite 바카라사이트m to violence or terrorism¡±.

¡°There is nothing in this bill which encourages higher education providers or students¡¯ unions to promote baseless and harmful claims or bad science on campus, and it is categorically untrue to suggest that 바카라사이트 bill will introduce a new right for individuals who seek to deny or distort 바카라사이트 Holocaust to speak on campus,¡± 바카라사이트 spokeswoman said.

¡°It will streng바카라사이트n protections for?lawful freedom of speech,?which is likely to support Jewish students who on?a number of?occasions have had 바카라사이트ir speech shut down by o바카라사이트rs.¡±

The bill also includes 바카라사이트 creation of a post of free speech and academic freedom champion to 바카라사이트 board of 바카라사이트 Office for Students. Lord Wharton of Yarm, 바카라사이트 regulator¡¯s chair, has said that government concerns go beyond no-platforming and surround ¡°a monoculture¡± in ¡°some parts of 바카라사이트 sector¡±, where people ¡°feel 바카라사이트y can¡¯t speak out¡± because of 바카라사이트ir political views.

However, Lord Wharton said that 바카라사이트 new champion would need to be 바카라사이트 ¡°right person¡±. ¡°If we get 바카라사이트 wrong person, 바카라사이트n clearly 바카라사이트re could be some challenges,¡± he said.

chris.havergal@ws-2000.com