Protecting free speech
Dr Prakash Shah has co-signed a letter in The Observer criticizing Labour's decision to halt the progression of the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act.
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Labour has decided to not move forward Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act "in order to consider options, including its repeal”. The act was due to come into effect on 1 August. The decision has drawn criticism from university educators.
A letter to The Observer, signed by a cross-university group of academics including Dr Prakash Shah, Reader in Culture and Law at Queen Mary University of London, said:
"The act, whose main provisions were due to come into force on 1 August, would have significantly strengthened protection for free speech in universities, by empowering academics to bring complaints to the Office for Students.
We believe that academic freedom is a basic public good and a cornerstone of our democracy. It is also clearly under threat. We urge the Labour government to implement the act."
Read the full letter and list of signatories on The Observer.