MPS plan to protect free speech after Oxford students censor Rudd
‘They ought to lead the way in defending the bedrock of democracy rather than being snowflake central’
OXFORD UNIVERSITY has been rebuked by the Education Secretary over the “unacceptable” no-platforming of Amber Rudd, as the Government last night threatened intervention to protect free speech on campuses.
Gavin Williamson is now believed to be looking at increasing the powers of the universities regulator after a speech by the former home secretary was blocked on Thursday by a student society. The Daily Telegraph understands that ministers are considering amending the 1986 Education Act to ensure that the Office for Students (OFS) is able to police student bodies that fail to protect free speech.
While universities have a duty to uphold free speech, Government sources have expressed concern that the current legislation does not directly apply to students’ unions or societies.
It comes after Ms Rudd hit out at the “badly judged and rude” decision by Oxford’s Unwomen society to cancel an address she was due to give to mark International Women’s Day, just 30 minutes before it was due to begin.
The 56-year-old yesterday urged students to “stop hiding and begin engaging” after a 13-person committee rescinded her invitation to speak, citing concerns over her association with the Windrush scandal.
Wading into the row last night, Mr Williamson urged Oxford to take urgent action, pointing out that Prof Selina Todd, a historian, was no-platformed last weekend after being invited to speak at an event at Exeter College. “For two speakers to have been no-platformed at Oxford within a week is unacceptable,” he added.
“It is not enough to adopt free speech codes if they are not enforced. I expect the University of Oxford to take robust action over these incidents – and if universities are not prepared to defend free speech, the Government will.”
His comments were echoed by Jacob Rees-mogg, the Leader of the Commons, who warned Oxford that it “ought to lead the way” in defending the “bedrock of democracy … rather than being snowflake central”.
A Whitehall source indicated that the 1986 Education Act, which underpins the regulatory powers of the OFS, could be revisited as a means of addressing no-platforming. They claimed that while universities often acted to sanction students or societies on issues such as racism, they appeared less willing to intervene over free speech.
A spokesman for Oxford University said it “strongly disapproved” of the decision to un-invite Ms Rudd.
They added: “We encourage our students to debate and engage with a range of views. We will be making the University’s position and feelings very clear to the event organisers and taking necessary steps to ensure that this cannot be repeated.”