Lecturers fear for job over ‘toxic wokeness’

ACADEMICS are facing transphobia investigations for “liking” and sharing tweets, as dozens of “terrified” university staff flood a secret online forum with claims of censorship.

Professors, lecturers and students say a toxic “no debate” culture on campuses around transgender issues means they risk losing their jobs for defending the sanctity of biological sex, with younger scholars forced to be “politically correct” to secure job promotions.

An anonymous testimonials website set up three weeks ago to document disquiet on the trans debate at British universities has received 120 submissions, most reporting they are selfcensoring for fear of reprisal.

Oxford historian Selina Todd, who was last year assigned security guards to attend lectures following threats by trans activists, said the testimonials were “disturbing” and universities must confront the “real crisis” of free speech.

One submission on the forum, by a Russell Group academic, said: “I had a complaint made to my HR department because I ‘follow’ and ‘like’ on Twitter people like Kathleen Stock, LGB Alliance, Woman’s Place UK. And that’s it.”

Another from a leading Russell Group university said that “for merely suggesting that women had the right to debate issues that concern them” on Twitter, they were investigated for transphobia and racism.

A Universities UK spokesman said: “Every student and staff member has the right to a safe environment and any incident of harassment or bullying is unacceptable.”