In July, the Secretary of State for Education, Bridget Phillipson, issued a statement to the House of Commons saying she intended to stop commencement of the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act “in order to consider options, including its repeal”.
It was fitting that the Labour Government would declare war on free speech in a written statement, posted quietly to the House of Commons website on a Friday – a good day for bad news, as any journalist will tell you – and unaccompanied by any opportunity for parliamentary debate or scrutiny.
The Freedom of Speech Act was a carefully crafted piece of legislation, properly debated in both House of Parliament, designed to address the free speech crisis in our universities. It would have strengthened the legal duty on English universities to uphold and promote freedom of speech, and it created a couple of enforcement mechanisms, such as a complaints scheme overseen by the higher education regulator, to make sure universities didn’t ignore that duty.
Having received cross-party support during the last Parliament, its most important clauses were due to be commenced on 1st August. Now, because Rishi Sunak called an election before the Act had been fully implemented, this Government has seized its chance to derail it.
At the FSU, we’ve sent a pre-action protocol letter to the Education Secretary, threatening a judicial review if she doesn’t reverse her decision.
However, to increase our chances of rescuing this vital piece of legislation we also need to keep up the pressure on MPs. Please use our campaigning tool to write to your local MP, urging them to ask Ms Phillipson to think again.
Completing the form is a simple, fast process that can have a significant impact. We’ve even provided a template to help, but feel free to personalise it. Your voice matters and it’s vital that you make it heard.
Our threat to judicially review Bridget Phillipson’s decision is the first legal action this Government is facing and, as you’ll appreciate, anything involving lawyers is expensive.
If you can, please donate to our Fighting Fund to help meet some of our costs.
Thank you in advance. As ever, we really appreciate your help.
