London\u00a0\u00a0 –\u00a0 Britain is set to introduce new laws guaranteeing freedom of speech in universities to counteract what\u00a0the\u00a0government on Tuesday called \u201cunacceptable silencing and censoring\u201d on campuses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As part of the plans, the government is considering appointing a \u201cfree speech champion\u201d to investigate possible breaches of the right to expression, while academics who lose their jobs in similar disputes may be able to claim compensation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI am deeply worried about the chilling effect on campuses of unacceptable silencing and censoring,\u201d said education minister Gavin Williamson.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat is why we must strengthen free speech in higher education, by bolstering the existing legal duties and ensuring strong, robust action is taken if these are breached.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, the government was accused of exploiting culture wars, after itself launching a pushback against the toppling of slavery-era statues and efforts to educate Britons about their colonial past, in the wake of last year\u2019s Black Lives Matter protests. Just six events out of almost 10,000 involving an external speaker were cancelled over the speakers\u2019 views in 2019-20, according to a survey in December by the group Wonkhe, which analyses higher education policy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe government has tapped into a wider push by conservatives, right-leaning libertarians and \u2018classical liberals\u2019 to combat \u2018cancel culture\u2019 and the supposed \u2018woke left\u2019 agenda that they claim has led to a crisis of free speech in Britain,\u201d Australian historian Evan Smith wrote on the Wonkhe site.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Smith, who published a book last year about campus free-speech rows, added that \u201csimilar claims (are) being made in the US, Australia, Canada and France.\u201d The government proposals were slammed by Jo Grady, general secretary of the University and College Union, which represents staff in higher education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt is extraordinary that in the midst of a global pandemic the government appears more interested in fighting phantom threats to free speech than taking action to contain the real and present danger which the virus poses to staff and students,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But a group of senior academics welcomed the proposals in a letter to The Times. \u201cIn recent years, too many academics have been marginalised because they hold unorthodox views on issues like gender, Brexit and the legacy of empire,\u201d said the letter, organised by high-profile political commentator Matthew Goodwin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Speakers to have been \u201cno-platformed\u201d at universities include Brexit politician Nigel Farage, Canadian academic Jordan Peterson, leading feminists Julie Bindel and Selina Todd, philosopher Roger Scruton and former interior minister Amber Rudd.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
London\u00a0\u00a0 –\u00a0 Britain is set to introduce new laws guaranteeing freedom of speech in universities to counteract what\u00a0the\u00a0government on Tuesday called \u201cunacceptable silencing and censoring\u201d on campuses. As part of the plans, the government is considering appointing a \u201cfree speech champion\u201d to investigate possible breaches […]<\/p>\n
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