Summary

We’ve written to St John’s College and the University of Cambridge asking for the urgent reinstatement of a film screening organised by student Charlie Bentley-Astor which the College has cancelled. She intended to show the film Birthgap – Childless World with director Stephen Shaw, but student activists threatened protests – apparently for the ludicrous reason that Shaw had appeared on Jordan Peterson’s podcast. The College had already imposed prohibitive security costs, which we had offered to pay, before it caved in to the demands of the protesters and axed the screening. The decision was criticised in the House of Lords as the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Bill completed its passage through Parliament.