Censorious students

SIR – Jo Johnson, the universities minister, is clearly correct in asserting that universities must uphold the right to free speech (report, December 27).

However, the Government might well regret naming the new supervisory body responsible for protecting open debate the Office for Students, since it appears to be the students who want “safe spaces” and “no platforming” policies. Trevor Jones

Sidmouth, Devon

SIR – Your leading article (December 27) judges that the threat to free speech in universities stems, in part, from the institutions themselves and from many academics who share such views. This has filtered down to students and specifically to student unions, which possess the authority to “no platform” controversial speakers.

Jo Johnson is doing the right thing by putting pressure on universities. However, it is imperative that student unions and fringe protest groups are carefully monitored for signs of bad practice. This would serve to uphold free speech at a grassroots level. James Smith

Bampton, Oxfordshire