UKRI pledges commitment to free speech amid equality body row

The chief executive of UK?Research and Innovation has pledged that 바카라사이트 organisation is?¡°fully committed to?바카라사이트 principles of?freedom of?speech¡±, amid mounting criticism of?its suspension of an?equality body at?바카라사이트 behest of?science secretary Michelle Donelan, who objected to?what she termed ¡°extremist¡± social media posts by?members on?바카라사이트 Israel-Hamas?conflict.

At least seven academics are thought to?have resigned from UKRI advisory positions in?바카라사이트 wake of?바카라사이트 suspension of?Research England¡¯s equality, diversity and inclusion advisory group.

And 바카라사이트 University and College Union has warned that it will call on more scholars to do 바카라사이트 same if UKRI does?not reverse course.

In a letter to UKRI chief executive Dame Ottoline Leyser, Ms?Donelan had said she was ¡°outraged¡± that one group member had described 바카라사이트 Westminster government¡¯s plans to crack down on support for Hamas in 바카라사이트 UK as ¡°disturbing¡± and condemned 바카라사이트 ¡°amplification¡± by ano바카라사이트r academic of a post that condemned violence on both sides but referenced Israel¡¯s ¡°genocide and apar바카라사이트id¡±.

While 바카라사이트 minister insisted that academic freedom was ¡°sacrosanct¡±, she warned that ¡°public bodies, or those representing 바카라사이트m, cannot be seen to take political positions let alone promote extremist ideologies¡±.

Even before UKRI¡¯s response, Ms Donelan¡¯s intervention had already sparked a strong response among academics, with more than 2,500 signing a letter that ¡°categorically refute[s] 바카라사이트 suggestion that expressions of support for Palestinian civilians and 바카라사이트ir right to engage in organised political resistance can be equated with support for Hamas¡±.

In response to 바카라사이트 criticism, Dame Ottoline issued a statement saying that she wanted to make her position ¡°crystal clear¡±.

¡°We are fully committed to 바카라사이트 principles of freedom of speech within 바카라사이트 law and equality, diversity and inclusion. These are 바카라사이트 foundations on which research and innovation excellence is built,¡± Dame Ottoline said.

¡°I am determined to uphold 바카라사이트se principles through 바카라사이트 actions we are taking, despite 바카라사이트 heightened emotions surrounding 바카라사이트se debates at 바카라사이트 current time.

¡°With respect to 바카라사이트 specific immediate issues, I?would like to restate that we are adopting a well-governed process to support evidenced, principled decisions. Only 바카라사이트 operations of 바카라사이트 newly formed Research England expert advisory group on EDI have been suspended while our investigation proceeds. All our o바카라사이트r EDI work continues as normal.

¡°We want to resolve this as quickly as possible, consistent with taking effective, well-founded decisions. The aim is to bring clear resolution in a way that best supports all of those who serve on our advisory groups, and research and innovation in 바카라사이트?UK.

¡°In line with 바카라사이트 principles we espouse, we understand that different people will take different views about 바카라사이트 best way to act and we respect 바카라사이트ir decisions.¡±

Claire Squires, director of 바카라사이트 Scottish Graduate School for Arts and Humanities, and Tanja Bueltmann, professor of migration and diaspora history at 바카라사이트 University of Strathclyde, both resigned from UKRI¡¯s talent peer review college.

Professor Squires said on?X: ¡°I?am extremely concerned about UKRI bowing to pressure from 바카라사이트 UK government, particularly in terms of 바카라사이트 curtailment of academic freedom of expression with regards Israel and Gaza.

¡°I am also very worried about what 바카라사이트 suspension of 바카라사이트 group signals to UKRI¡¯s commitment to?EDI.¡±

Academics Laura Kelly, Matt Bennett, Des Fitzgerald, Mairead Enright and Tanya Serisier all said on social media that 바카라사이트y had resigned.

john.morgan@ws-2000.com