LONDON (AP) – The British government said on Tuesday it would appoint a “champion of free speech” for universities to protect themselves from attempts to silence academics and speakers with unpopular views.
Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said he was “deeply concerned about the appalling effect of unacceptable campuses of silence and censorship.”
“That is why we need to strengthen freedom of expression in higher education by strengthening existing legal duties and ensuring that strong and robust measures are taken if these are breached,” he said.
The new champion will investigate allegations of violations of freedom of expression, such as the dismissal of academics or the “non-platforming” of guest speakers. The Conservative government also plans to grant a regulatory body, the Office for Students, powers to fine universities that violate the requirement to support free speech.
Academics and other people who are expelled, fired or degraded for their opinions will be able to claim compensation through the courts according to plans, which have not yet become law.
In recent years, controversies have arisen over freedom of expression on UK campuses over invitations to right-wing politicians and authors, and to speakers with controversial views on the rights of transgender people.
Critics accuse the government of pursuing populist politics rather than supporting free speech.
Peter Tatchell, a veteran gay and human rights activist, said the government was “interested in using popular culture issues as a way to provoke a wedge and gain political advantage, and I’m afraid this is a cynical part. of this strategy. ”
Opponents also accuse the government of pressuring education and heritage organizations not to highlight the negative aspects of Britain’s history. Prime Minister Boris Johnson and other senior ministers have opposed the removal of statues of historical figures associated with slavery and the British Empire.
Secretary of Culture Oliver Dowden has written to government-funded museums and historic sites to warn them of the removal of statues, saying “they should not take actions motivated by activism or politics.”
The University and College Union, which represents academics, accused the government of “fighting ghost threats.”
In reality, the greatest threats to academic freedom and freedom of expression do not come from staff and students, nor from the so-called “canceling culture,” but from ministers’ own attempts to control what can be done. and it can’t be said on campus, and the failure to deal with the endemic job insecurity and managerial approaches that make academics less able to tell the truth to power, ”said Secretary-General Jo Grady.