We’ve written to the Education Secretary and the Universities Minister to thank them for introducing two amendments that we campaigned for – removing the caveat “within their field of expertise” from Clause 1, so the new free speech protections apply to academics regardless of whether their speaking or writing about something within their field of expertise or not, and making it harder for “security costs” to be cited by universities or student unions to justify no-platforming a controversial speaker.
Below you can read our original letter and the reply we received from the Rt Hon. James Cleverly MP.
UPDATE: We received a reply from the Rt Hon. James Cleverly MP. You can read the full text of his letter below.
The Free Speech Union
85 Great Portland Street
London W1W 7LT
+44 020 3920 7865