Universities Ordered to Defend Free Speech

GRASSMONSTER SAYS:

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Universities Ordered to Defend Free Speech – Even When It’s Uncomfortable

In a country that once gave the world John Stuart Mill, George Orwell, and the blistering pamphleteers of the Enlightenment, it now seems necessary to tell its universities that speech is not a crime.

This week, the Office for Students (OfS) has issued formal guidance making it legally mandatory for universities in England to protect freedom of speech on campus – even when those views are unpopular, offensive, or politically radioactive.

Yes, that’s right. In 2025, the stewards of higher education are being reminded not to shut people up.

The guidance applies to all registered universities and student unions. If they host events or invite speakers, they must now actively ensure those people can speak – and must not cancel them because of ideological pressure, social media storms, or student campaigns that mistake discomfort for danger.

In short: the “no-platforming” era may finally be on the ropes.

This doesn’t mean hate speech is allowed – the law on incitement still applies. But what it does mean is that speech cannot be restricted just because someone finds it disagreeable or controversial. And let’s be honest: in recent years, too many institutions have buckled under the weight of digital outrage.

Academics have been disinvited. Feminists have been shouted down. Historians have faced internal investigations. Students have been reported for quoting Churchill. All because someone claimed to feel unsafe in the presence of ideas.

That ends now.

The OfS has made it clear: if universities fail to uphold this duty, they can face regulatory enforcement and legal challenge. Institutions must now show that they have procedures to protect freedom of expression for staff, students, and visiting speakers alike.

It’s a firm hand, but a necessary one.

Universities were once battlegrounds of bold thought – not safe zones from reality. This new direction doesn’t silence debate. It demands that debate be allowed to happen.

After all, the purpose of education isn’t to keep people comfortable. It’s to keep them thinking.

@grassmonster

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