Less than a week before the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act 2023 was to come into force – over a year since it was given Royal Assent in May last year after passing through two houses of Parliament – the Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has announced her “decision to stop further commencement… in order to consider options, including its repeal”.
I had to read her statement several times to believe it, thinking at first it might be an anti-Labour “deep fake” designed to imply that the new Government is callously indifferent not just to free speech, but the democratic process itself.
When the Act passed last year, ultimately with cross-party support, I let out a loud sigh of relief rather than a cheer. It had taken months of exhausting arguments, hours of speeches and the watering down of amendments just to modestly enhance the academic freedom duty on universities. This would allow a complaints scheme for students, staff and visiting speakers, who could seek compensation if they suffered a breach of a university’s obligations, and allowed fines or sanctions for higher education providers and student unions if they transgressed....<<<Read More>>>...