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Saturday, August 24, 2024

Starmer government stalls freedom of speech act

The UK's new Labour government has put the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act (passed in the last Parliament) on hold, and is considering repealing it.  

Government delays university free-speech fines | BBC | Vanessa Clarke & Branwen Jeffreys:

July 25, 2024 - "Controversial new powers for universities and student unions to be fined for failing to uphold freedom of speech have been put on hold by the government. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said that would allow time to consider whether the law, which was due to come into force next week, would be repealed....

"The Higher Education Freedom of Speech Act, which was passed last year, said universities had a duty to 'secure' and 'promote the importance of' freedom of speech and academic expression. It would have allowed the OfS to fine or give sanctions to higher education providers and student unions in England from next week. It also included a new complaints scheme for students, staff and visiting speakers, who could seek compensation if they suffer from a breach of a university's free-speech obligations. But a government source told the BBC the legislation would have opened the way for Holocaust deniers to be allowed on campus, and was an 'anti-semite charter'."
Read more: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cv2gj1x11nmo

The Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act 2023 became law but its implementation has been stopped | Octopus TV | August 25, 2024:

Hundreds of Academics Accuse Labour of Free Speech Betrayal | Guido Fawkes: 

577 academics have now signed an open letter to Bridget Phillipson calling on the education secretary to restore the Tories’ Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act 2023. The act strengthened impositions on universities to support free speech on their premises and would introduce a complaints scheme to resolve issues.Richard Dawkins, Niall Ferguson, Kathleen Stock and others have signed. 

"The letter spells out that the act won’t be “burdensome” as Labour claims because government analysis has compliance cost at a tiny £4.7 million and that the complaints scheme would keep cases out of court.... Labour’s response is indignant: 'We make no apology for pausing the Tories’ hate speech charter, which would have allowed antisemites and holocaust deniers free rein on campuses'.... 

"Academics can sign here …

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc9GcINYCmoeyuiOLPNmmfJ_cUYNfbbf_m09xMCl7S2RQYASA/viewform

"Read the full letter below:

https://order-order.com/2024/08/23/hundreds-of-academics-accuse-labour-of-free-speech-betrayal/

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