Free speech is a "serious cause for concern" in English universities

The new chief of free speech for the Office for Students has said there is “serious cause for concern” in English universities.

According to the Academic Freedom Index the UK has fallen drastically in the last ten years.

A number of “no-platforming” protests have hit the news in recent months, with controversial speakers banned from particular events hosted in University’s.

Prof Amir Ahmed who was appointed earlier in the year has pledged to defend all views, and promises to uphold the right to peaceful protest.

The Office for Students regulates the higher education system in England, and according to Prof Ahmed is “completely politically neutral” when protecting free speech.

The function of his new role is to protect people who want to express their views until it amounts to harassment or incites violence.

In a speech at Kings College London this week – his first major appearance since being appointed – Prof Ahmed said, “you can speak as a Marxist, a post-colonial theorist, a gender-critical feminist or anything else – if you do it within the law.”

The breadth of concern expressed on campus ranges from fears over what people can say in classrooms, to what people could research.

The Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act 2023 calls for all universities to “secure” and “promote the importance of” free speech and academic expression, according to the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act 2023.

In line with this, Prof Ahmed will also oversee a new scheme in which students, staff and visiting speakers may seek compensation if they are affected by a breach to the freedom of speech obligations.

The complaints scheme is currently under consultation but is hoped to take effect next August.

Freedom of speech is “fundamental” to a high-quality higher education, says Prof Ahmed: “For many students, university might be the only time in their lives when they have both the time and the relative freedom to embark on his exploration.”