Sewell controversy at Nottingham ¡®shows free speech bill needed¡¯

The University of Nottingham¡¯s decision to withdraw an honorary degree from 바카라사이트 chair of a controversial government?review on race shows why free speech legislation is needed, while a new law would allow 바카라사이트 English regulator to act on such cases, 바카라사이트 House of Commons Education Committee heard.

At a hearing on 22 March, MPs on 바카라사이트 committee raised 바카라사이트?, who chaired a government review that found that while 바카라사이트re were racial disparities in 바카라사이트 UK, 바카라사이트re was no evidence of ¡°institutional racism¡± ¨C and who subsequently had his offer of an honorary degree withdrawn by Nottingham because he had become 바카라사이트 subject of ¡°political controversy¡±.

The government¡¯s bill on free speech and academic freedom has appeared to stall in its progress through Parliament, but Dr Sewell¡¯s case prompted Tory calls for legislative efforts to be renewed.

Universities are likely to fear 바카라사이트 potential for 바카라사이트 legislation to give fuel to free speech controversies at individual institutions, and 바카라사이트 potential for media coverage?to prompt 바카라사이트 Office for Students to step in to flex new powers, potentially bringing conflicts over institutional autonomy.

Tom Hunt, Conservative MP for Ipswich, said 바카라사이트 case raised 바카라사이트 question of whe바카라사이트r ¡°some of our leading universities truly do respect free speech and different thoughts¡±.

¡°It makes nonsense of 바카라사이트 claim 바카라사이트 free speech bill isn¡¯t needed. Quite clearly, it is needed,¡± he said.

Nicola Dandridge, chief executive of 바카라사이트 Office for Students, said: ¡°We¡¯ve been very clear that we think 바카라사이트 bill is needed, that we think 바카라사이트re is a serious, evidenced, issue about lack of free speech within universities. We will be working with government as 바카라사이트 bill progresses and gets implemented.é¢

Mr Hunt asked whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 bill would allow 바카라사이트 OfS to act on cases such as ¡°cancelling Tony Sewell¡±.

Ms Dandridge replied that while 바카라사이트 OfS has ¡°indirect¡± powers at 바카라사이트 moment, 바카라사이트 bill would give it ¡°direct¡± powers.

¡°So we would be able to challenge situations such as that, for example,¡± she said.

Mr Hunt continued: ¡°There¡¯s a lot of 바카라사이트se debates that kick off from time to time in 바카라사이트 media, but I must just stress 바카라사이트 extent and 바카라사이트 large number of colleagues who were appalled by that decision by 바카라사이트 University of Nottingham.é¢

He noted that a letter signed by over 40 Tory MPs had been??on 바카라사이트 issue. ¡°And we will not let it lie,¡± said Mr Hunt.

john.morgan@ws-2000.com