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# Academics criticise Gavin Williamson’s ‘free speech’ plans
- URL: https://www.scenemag.co.uk/academics-criticise-gavin-williamsons-free-speech-plans/
- Published: 2021-03-01T10:45:05.000Z
- Updated: 2021-03-01T08:27:15.000Z
- Description: Academics have criticised UK education secretary Gavin Williamson’s ‘free speech’ plans.
- Author: Rachel Badham
- Tags: News, Politics, LGBTQ, UK

![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/gavin-williamson-1.jpg)

Gavin Williamson

Academics have criticised **UK** education secretary **Gavin Williamson’s** ‘free speech’ plans, which aim to ban universities from banning hate speakers on campus. Williamson introduced the [regulations ](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/update-gavin-williamson-unveils-free-speech-regulations/)earlier this month, with the secretary saying an official will be appointed shortly to *“strengthen free speech and academic freedom at universities”,* and monitor institutions to ensure they comply with the new regulations. This means universities will not be able to ban anti-LGBTQ+ or racist speakers without being penalised.

However, the regulations have faced criticism from university officials who say there is no issue with the restriction of free speech on campus. Professor **Colin Riordan**, the out bisexual vice-chancellor of Cardiff university, told [*The Guardian*](https://www.theguardian.com/education/2021/feb/27/gavin-williamson-using-misleading-research-to-justify-campus-free-speech-law?utm%5Fsource=dlvr.it&utm%5Fmedium=twitter): *“The research this is all based upon is completely misleading.”* He said Cardiff was being criticised for barring ‘gender criticial’ feminist speaker **Germaine Greer** in 2015, when this is not factually correct: *“There was a campaign against Germaine Greer speaking, and we had to consider whether to cancel the event – and we didn’t. It is exactly the opposite of what has been suggested: the event went ahead.”*

![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/professor-colin-riordan-600-400.jpg)

Professor Colin Riordan

**Richard Wynn Jones**, professor of Welsh politics at Cardiff, who attended Greer’s lecture at the university in 2015, added: *“I am outraged that this alleged event in Cardiff keeps being brought up by the culture warriors, and it’s now being presented as a key argument for new legislation…Supposedly this was someone who was a fearless feminist of her day being closed down by a woke mob while the university stood by. But that is absolutely, categorically untrue.”*

A Department of Education spokesperson insisted: *“Unacceptable numbers of students and academics feel unable to express their lawful views without fear of repercussion.”* However, **Jo Grady**, general secretary for the University and College Union, [said](https://twitter.com/DrJoGrady/status/1360878558852362240?ref=scenemag.co.uk): *“The government appears to support free speech so much that despite there being no evidence of a free speech crisis on campus, they want to create a ‘free speech champion’ with the specific purpose of sanctioning institutions for allowing people to exercise choice and free speech…The ‘evidence base’ for this ‘woke-induced free speech crisis’ is completely manufactured.”*

![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/stop-hate-speech-1.jpg)