University free speech legislation becomes law

The UK government's flagship Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Bill received its Royal Assent yesterday and is now officially the law of the land for England and Wales.

It was first introduced to the House of Commons in May 2021 and entered the Lords over a year later in June 2022.

There followed a period of what's called 'ping-pong' where the Lords send an amended Bill back to the Commons where MPs accept or reject the amendments and send it back.

Finally, two years after being introduced, the legislation was 'signed off' by His Majesty King Charles III and is now officially an Act of Parliament.

The answer to this question depends on who you speak too! The UK government insist it will strengthen and extend free speech and academic freedom in higher education (principally, universities).

It will implement a range of measures put forward in a Department of Education policy paper in February 2021. The new Act will mean:

• The Office for Students will monitor enforcement of freedom of speech
• A new complaints system and redress for breaches of free speech duties
• A new free speech champion will be appointed

It was recently reported that the prime minister, Rishi Sunak, is considering asking Cambridge professor Arif Ahmed to become the free speech champion.