Government pushes ahead with legislation to protect free speech at universities
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The Government is pushing ahead with key measures in legislation aimed at protecting free speech at universities, the Education Secretary has said. But a “statutory tort” – which could have allowed individuals to bring legal proceedings against higher education institutions that failed to comply with freedom of speech duties – will be removed from the legislation.
Bridget Phillipson told MPs that the tort “risks diverting resources away from students at a time when university finances are already strained”. The Education Secretary also announced that she was seeking to repeal plans for the duties on students’ unions.
Setting out the Labour Government’s plans for the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act, Ms Phillipson told MPs that academic freedom was “much more important than the wishes of some students not to be offended”. The implementation of legislation was halted in July shortly after the general election due to concerns it could be potentially damaging to student welfare and “burdensome” for universities.
The law, passed under the previous Tory government in 2023, was paused to allow Labour to consider its options. In a statement to the Commons – nearly six months since the legislation was put on hold – Ms Phillipson said the Act would impose a duty on universities to secure and “promote” freedom of speech.
