We won’t reply to Brexit letter
NORTH EAST UNIVERSITIES REJECT REQUEST
A TORY MP’s ‘Big Brother-style’ request for Brexit information has been given short shrift by North East universities.
Conservative whip Chris Heaton Harris wrote to vice-chancellors across the country asking for the names of professors lecturing on Brexit and details of their courses.
All in this region have acknowledged receiving the letter but none has said their universities will be providing the information requested.
Prof Stuart Corbridge, vice-chancellor of Durham University, said: “We have received the letter. We did not reply.
“It suggests a challenge to academic freedom that I find alarming.”
The University of Sunderland’s vicechancellor, Shirley Atkinson, said: “One of the important roles of universities is to secure freedom of speech: fostering conversations and creating a safe environment that encourages students, employees and the community to debate and discuss matters of general interest.
“At the University of Sunderland we continue to protect and promote that role.”
And a Northumbria University spokesperson said: “A letter was received by our vice-chancellor, and like other universities we do not intend to respond to it.” Newcastle University took the same line, while Prof Thom Brooks, dean of Durham Law School, said: “Let me make something clear. I will NOT be answering his request. We’re a university. Not thought police.”
Even those who defended Mr Heaton-Harris, one saying he might have been researching a book, admitted the letter “probably should not have been sent”.
Universities accused the Leave-supporting MP of taking “the first step to the thought police” and branded the move a “sinister” attempt to clamp down on free speech.
After Downing Street distanced itself from the sending of the letter, Mr Heaton-Harris tweeted: “To be absolutely clear, I believe in free speech in our universities and in having an open and vigorous debate on Brexit.”
However the letter, like Brexit itself, has proved a divisive one outside of the university responses.
Veteran TV reporter John Simpson wrote on Twitter: “MP wants details of anti-Brexit univ teachers. Decent folk deported on technicalities. Daily hate in press. Doesn’t feel like my country now.”
Robert Peston, the ITV political journalist, took a different view, writing: “So I see I am being killed here for believing that no academic with any backbone should feel intimidated by one of the most junior members of the Government asking for inappropriate information. I repeat: the UK is suffering a Brexit-induced nervous breakdown.”