University free speech law watered down

Legislation designed to halt de-platforming of speakers with counter-cultural views at universities has been watered down by No 10.

The Government has ditched an aspect of the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Bill that would have given academics and students a right to sue institutions for breaching their free speech rights.

Presently, academics and students can seek a judicial review if their rights are violated - but this costs hundreds of thousands of pounds, which is not viable for most professors or students.

Commenting on the bill last week, a Government spokesperson insisted that Ministers remained committed to free speech and said suggestions that the Bill was being watered down were "nonsense".

But Dr Julius Grower, an associate law professor at Oxford University, said the government's changes were a “shattering blow to the cause of protecting academic free speech”. He told The Telegraph:

“It will be hard for academics whose academic freedom is violated to show pecuniary loss....Consequently, the number of academic freedom violations which this clause will end up protecting is minimal."

Toby Young, founder of the Free Speech Union, added:

“If the Government amends the Bill so students and academics are only able to take their universities to the county court for breaching their free speech duties after exhausting every other avenue, it will neuter it.”