Released today: Anyone who is opposed to shutting people up by force is bound to be faced with arguments that suppressing speech isn’t so bad after all. But these arguments were considered and rejected decades ago, and this is a perfect handy guide on how to answer them, by a

A few weeks ago I spoke at the Westminster Higher Education Policy Forum conference on what universities can do to implement the OfS guidance on the HE (Freedom of Speech) Act. This article in The Critic is based on that, laying out a three-step plan. thecritic.co.uk/depoliticising…

1/ Today is a historic day. The key duties of the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act come into force from today. 🧵

2/ These include Section 1, duty A1: Universities must take reasonably practicable steps to secure free speech and academic freedom within the law for staff, students, and speakers. The next few tweets are about this duty.

3/ The A1 duty is at the heart of the Act, and replaces Section 43 of the Education Act 1986. It improves upon it in two key ways: a requirement to place particular regard for the importance of free speech, and a clear definition of academic freedom.

7/ Section 1, A3: universities must actively promote the importance of freedom of speech and academic freedom.

12/ The natural state in present-day Britain is free speech deterioration. But today is a welcome aberration. This Act is the most unabashedly free speech law passed in the modern history of England, and its key duties came into force today. A day to celebrate! /End

The HEFOSA should apply to student unions. They are always the most censorious bodies. A clear failure by Bridget Phillipson and the The Office for Students (OfS) that will help undermine free speech on campus. Student Academics For Academic Freedom The Free Speech Union Heather Connie Shaw Academy of Ideas Kellie-Jay Keen

I was interviewed by Tyrel Cameron Eskelson for his 'The Interlocutor Podcast'. Do listen. Academics For Academic Freedom Student Academics For Academic Freedom Academy of Ideas Buckingham Academics For Academic Freedom The Free Speech Union Together James Tooley MCC Brussels GB News Hypatia FIRE youtube.com/watch?v=GPVGiw…

Publication day! AUTHORITARIANS IN THE ACADEMY is officially out. Thanks to everyone, especially my colleagues at FIRE and my publisher Hopkins Press, who helped me get this from an idea to a draft to a finished book. It’s available for purchase now.

The point about AFAF is we don’t want academics to give us money, or sign our statement and think that’s it. We ask them to do whatever they can to openly and publicly defend free speech. Student Academics For Academic Freedom Academy of Ideas LeedsUniAFAF Dublin Universities AFAF Join us. 👇 afaf.org.uk/afaf-statement/

AFAF is pleased to announce that we have a new branch at the University of St Andrews. Do follow them: St Andrews Academics for Academic Freedom (If you would like to set up an AFAF Branch at your university, do get in touch.) Student Academics For Academic Freedom Academy of Ideas Edinburgh Academics for Academic Freedom afaf.org.uk/university-of-…

Well done St Andrews Academics for Academic Freedom, and a very warm welcome to the growing movement. Freethinking, open-mindedness, and honesty will always remain crucial in UK academia.

Join the The Free Speech Union if you can. They do miracles with a relatively small membership cost. Efficient, and one of the most impressive organisations I have seen since my return to the UK. 🇬🇧🇺🇸🇬🇧 For academics, also join the brilliant Academics For Academic Freedom

The best way to uphold the memory of Charlie Kirk is to keep speaking, arguing and debating. Free speech, no ifs no buts.

Academics need to see and consider this. Especially academics outside the free speech circles (who already know about such cases). LeedsUniAFAF Academics For Academic Freedom University of Leeds

Join the The Free Speech Union, get a bit of protection, and help the fund this important branch of the free speech movement. Academics, also join Academics For Academic Freedom

Thames Valley Police Hi Thames Valley Police. This is irrelevant. What happened will suffice for a finding of an art 10 violation. The interaction with that woman generates a chilling effect, and shows that you fail to understand the law. If you want to improve things, you have my contact details.

Academics For Academic Freedom Frank Furedi A reminder you can show your commitment to academic freedom by signing our statement. Current and former academice staff and pupils welcome. afaf.org.uk/afaf-statement/

Times Higher Education Campus has published our free speech checklist, with an introduction by Dennis Hayes How does your university score out of 12? Student Academics For Academic Freedom ARU Student Academics For Academic Freedom FIRE National Association of Scholars Academy of Ideas Universities UK 🇨🇦 Society for Academic Freedom and Scholarship timeshighereducation.com/campus/free-sp…