There was a moment when I was listening to the Lords Report stage debate on the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Bill when I almost fell off my chair – a problem given that I was at the wheel of a car at the time.
Earlier in the week the opposition benches had introduced a new version of a proposal that had been attempted at Report stage in the Commons – a clause banning Non-Disclosure Agreements to settle complaints about harassment and sexual misconduct.
I’d assumed that the government line would be as it has been previously – arguing that ministers were urging providers to voluntarily sign up a pledge and urging OfS to embed something on NDAs in regulation.
