FREE speech protections for universities will now be enforced by Labour following a backlash from campaigners.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson last night announced she would be pressing ahead with Tory laws to safeguard open expression on campuses.
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Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has announced she will press ahead with free speech safeguards after allCredit: Getty
After assuming office post-election she sparked controversy for criticising the legislation and pausing its implementation.
But yesterday she said: “These fundamental freedoms are more important – much more important – than the wishes of some students not to be offended.
“University is a place for ideas to be exposed and debated, to be tried and tested… it is not a place for students to shut down any view with which they disagree.”
Tory MPs accused her of a “humiliating” climbdown after having “changed her footing” on the Higher Education Free Speech Act.
The law gives the students watchdog powers to investigate and fine universities for free speech breaches.
It also bans universities from non-disclosure agreements to gag victims of harassment or sexual misconduct on campuses.
However Ms Phillipson has watered down the Conservative plan by removing the ability for individuals to take universities to court for possible infringements.
And she is also shelving the requirement for foreign governments like China to declare when they are funding university projects.
Ms Phillipson caused fury for pausing the implementation of the legislation after winning the election, prompting 600 academics to condemn the decision.
She insisted it would give free rein for hatred to infiltrate in universities, like allowing Holocaust deniers to speak and whip up abuse against Jewish students.
Tory Shadow Education Secretary Laura Trott blasted: “It should have been obvious straight away for anyone with even the basic sympathy of liberal education, that pausing this Act was a mistake.
“It is only now, after all that humiliation, that she has finally changed her footing.”