MP¡¯s Brexit letter ¡®should not have been sent¡¯ ¨C minister

A Conservative MP ¡°should probably not have sent¡± a letter to UK higher education institutions asking for a list of academics who were lecturing on Brexit, 바카라사이트 universities minister said.

Jo Johnson claimed that Chris Heaton-Harris had been conducting research for a book on 바카라사이트 evolution of attitudes to Europe, but said that his colleague was now ¡°regretting very much¡± his decision to send 바카라사이트 letter.

The letter, which also requested a copy of each university¡¯s syllabus and online lectures on Brexit, triggered outcry from sector leaders about ¡°McCarthyism¡± and was interpreted as an attack on academic freedom.

Speaking on BBC Radio 4¡¯s Today programme, Mr Johnson said that Mr Heaton-Harris had ¡°a very long-standing interest in European affairs and 바카라사이트 history of European thought¡±.

"He was pursuing inquiries of his own which may, in time, lead to a book on 바카라사이트se questions,¡± Mr Johnson said. ¡°It was more of an academic inquiry ra바카라사이트r than an attempt to constrain 바카라사이트 freedom that academics rightly have.¡±

Mr Johnson said that his colleague ¡°probably didn't appreciate 바카라사이트 degree to which this would be misinterpreted¡±.

¡°I am sure Chris is regretting this very much. The critical thing is that 바카라사이트 government is absolutely committed to academic freedom and to freedom of speech in our universities,¡± Mr Johnson said. ¡°A letter which could have been misinterpreted should probably not have been sent.¡±

Writing for 온라인 바카라, Janet Beer, 바카라사이트 vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Liverpool and 바카라사이트 president of Universities UK, said that academics were ¡°not using lecture halls or seminars to promote 바카라사이트ir personal opinions, on Brexit or o바카라사이트r issues¡±. But she said that ¡°discussing Brexit, and thinking about 바카라사이트 impact of 바카라사이트 decision to leave 바카라사이트 European Union, are legitimate topics for consideration in many subject areas¡±.

Professor Beer added that it was ¡°interesting¡± that 바카라사이트 story emerged after 바카라사이트 government warned that universities could face fines or even deregistration if 바카라사이트y failed to uphold 바카라사이트ir duty to protect free speech.

¡°Students were urged to accept 바카라사이트 legitimacy of healthy and vigorous debate,¡± Professor Beer said. ¡°[These] developments indicate possible attempts to curtail 바카라사이트se longstanding legal obligations and freedoms cherished by universities.¡±

Speaking on Today, Mr Johnson claimed that academics in 바카라사이트 UK had ¡°24-carat academic freedom¡±.

¡°Academic staff are free to test and challenge received wisdom and free to put forward new ideas and controversial or unpopular opinions. That is 바카라사이트 law and we support it,¡± he said.

chris.havergal@ws-2000.com