The Westminster government’s campus free speech bill has drawn fierce criticism from two former Conservative universities ministers, concerned that it opens the door to “vexatious and complex legal proceedings” against English universities and to ministerial “control-freakery” on institutions’ overseas funding.
The Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Bill, which aims to “protect lawful freedom of speech” on English campuses, had its second reading in the House of Lords on 28 June, having passed through the House of Commons.
Peers will seek to amend the bill, which has brought claims that the Conservative government is using it to wage a culture war on universities.
