After the Government shelved a new law aimed at tackling cancel culture, Cambridge University has issued its own rules on protecting freedom of speech, The Daily Mail reports.
The prestigious university said it was introducing its new code of practice ‘despite’ the Government’s decision to scrap the Freedom of Speech Act.
Cambridge announced it was ‘fully committed to the principle and to the promotion of freedom of speech’ for its staff and students.
It said the code ‘applies with effect from 1 August 2024 despite Government plans to stop further commencement of the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act 2023’.
Last month, Bridget Phillipson, the new Education secretary, announced that she would halt the introduction of the legislation while the Government considered its future.
Labour has claimed the law is ‘not fit for purpose’, arguing that it puts Jewish students at risk of antisemitic abuse.
Under the now-scrapped legislation, universities, colleges and student unions in England would have a legal duty to promote academic freedom and free speech. The new law would also have meant more robust protections for visiting speakers.
The Government’s decision to halt the law means academics and guest speakers will continue to be vulnerable to so-called ‘cancel culture’ on campuses.
Universities UK, which represents more than 140 British universities, said the legislation would have ‘strengthened’ the current law. Existing legislation requires institutions to protect free speech, but not to actively promote it.
Cambridge’s new code of conduct means that visiting speakers will be allowed to express ‘controversial or unpopular views’ and that ‘protest must not shut down debate’.
The university said it would even consider covering security costs for any controversial speakers. However, it stressed that events would still need to be within the law. Cambridge would not provide a platform for hate speech.
This announcement follows concerns that visiting speakers at several universities have been ‘no-platformed’ for controversial views, especially on transgender issues.
Whilst Cambridge’s decision to implement free speech protections is welcome, Philipson’s decision to scrap the Freedom of Speech Act still represents a devastating attack on academic freedom.
In fact, almost 450 academics have now signed a letter calling on the Education Secretary to reinstate the free speech legislation, which they described as ‘vitally important’.
At the Free Speech Union, 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.
Click here to write to your MP.
