
The Freedom of Speech Bill Is a Huge Step towards Saving the Soul of University Education
The Government is right to champion free expression at a time when everyday censorship on campus is rife.
The Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Bill, announced in the Queen’s Speech yesterday, is a long overdue piece of legislation, and the Government deserves credit for seeing it through. At stake is a question of values: is freedom of expression or protection from subjectively-defined psychological harm a higher value in our society?
Smart Policy, Straight to You
Don't miss the newsletters from MI and City Journal
If we elevate empathy for the feelings of the most sensitive member of historically marginalized race, gender and sexual-identity groups – as interpreted by radical activists – over our right to speak, we will have turned our backs on a centuries-old principle which anchors English tradition and the Enlightenment.
Continue reading the entire piece here at the The Telegraph (paywall)
______________________
Eric Kaufmann is professor of politics at Birkbeck College, University of London and a fellow of the Manhattan Institute.
This piece originally appeared in The Telegraph