General Article What you need to know about the new free speech pledge for universities

Topic Selected: Censorship
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Suzanne Whitten, Queen's University Belfast

Universities may no longer be able to ban controversial speakers from giving talks on campus – those that continue to do so could face a fine. The freedom to debate and discuss difficult topics should remain a central feature of university life, according to the universities minister, Sam Gyimah.

The new plans come after concerns over “no-platforming” of controversial speakers, and the censorship of certain viewpoints, which have all led to mounting pressure for government intervention.

To tackle the issue, Gyimah has called for a single clear set of guidelines for both students and institutions to replace the “dizzying variety” of rules about who can be invited to speak on university campuses and what they can say.

This is the first government intervention on free speech on campus for 30 years. And the new plans could see universities named and shamed or even fined if they don’t uphold the rules of free speech.

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