New laws ‘would give free rein to extremists on campus’
A student protest outside the Cambridge Union (PA)
Labour has accused the Conservatives of enabling extremists to sue universities and students’ unions with upcoming laws the Government says are designed to protect freedom of speech.
The Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Bill returns to the Commons on Monday, and Labour is urging Conservative MPs to vote with them against the legislation.
Registered universities and colleges in England will be required to promote and defend freedom of speech and academic freedom under the proposed legislation.
The Office for Students (OfS), the higher education regulator in England, would have the power to impose fines on institutions if they breached this condition.
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Universities to comply with free speech duties or face sanctions
Landmark Bill will require universities to promote freedom of speech on campus and legal duties will also be extended to students unions
From:
12 May 2021
A historic bill introduced in Parliament today (12 May) will strengthen the legal duties on higher education providers in England to protect freedom of speech on campuses up and down the country, for students, academics and visiting speakers.
The Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Bill will bring in new measures that will require universities and colleges registered with the Office for Students to defend free speech and help stamp out unlawful ‘silencing’.