Woke intolerance

SIR – Simon Heffer (Comment, May 30) eloquently portends the demise of “wokeism”.

Two aspects of this loathsome influence particularly disturb me. The first is its oppressiveness towards nonconformists – hence the BLM assumption that anyone who resists “taking the knee” is a wicked would-be racist. As Mr Heffer writes, one should be free, not forced, to express opinion.

Secondly, as a former academic, I condemn with Mr Heffer the apparent infection of universities – cancel culture, no-platforming of visiting speakers and the like. It should hardly be necessary for a government to impose free speech on any institution worthy of university status.

Robust debate and toleration of differing views should be of such an institution’s very essence, as some in Cambridge now belatedly recognise. John Kidd

Brisbane, Queensland, Australia