The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
University rejects Tory’s ‘chilling’ teaching request
St Andrews University has refused to release a list of professors whose teaching covers Brexit following a “chilling” letter from a Conservative MP.
Chris Heaton-Harris, a Eurosceptic and Tory whip, has faced heavy criticism for the request, which also asked vicechancellors to supply their teaching resources on the subject.
University bosses said they would happily send Mr Heaton-Harris a leaflet for an evening class they run on European wines.
A spokeswoman for the university said: “Brexit is a major and developing European event and it would be surprising and disappointing if it did not influence broad parts of our curriculum now and in future.
“Our only Brexitspecific course at present, however, is a non-degree-bearing evening class on wines of the European Union and Brexit, for which we would be happy to send Mr Heaton-Harris a leaflet. We will of course not be providing the names of academic staff per his written request.”
Stephen Gethins, the MP for North East Fife and the SNP’s Europe spokesman, described it as a “chilling new low for the Tory government”.
Mr Heaton-Harris tweeted yesterday: “To be absolutely clear, I believe in free speech in our universities and in having an open and vigorous debate on Brexit.”
However, Downing Street distanced itself from the letter as a spokesman stressed Theresa May’s respect for the “freedom and independence of universities”.