Sewell controversy at Nottingham ‘shows free speech bill needed’

The University of Nottingham’s decision to withdraw an honorary degree from the chair of a controversial government review on race shows why free speech legislation is needed, while a new law would allow the English regulator to act on such cases, the House of Commons Education Committee heard.

At a hearing on 22 March, MPs on the committee raised the case of Tony Sewell, who chaired a government review that found that while there were racial disparities in the UK, there was no evidence of “institutional racism” – and who subsequently had his offer of an honorary degree withdrawn by Nottingham because he had become the subject of “political controversy”.

The government’s bill on free speech and academic freedom has appeared to stall in its progress through Parliament, but Dr Sewell’s case prompted Tory calls for legislative efforts to be renewed.

Universities are likely to fear the potential for the legislation to give fuel to free speech controversies at individual institutions, and the potential for media coverage to prompt the Office for Students to step in to flex new powers, potentially bringing conflicts over institutional autonomy.

Tom Hunt, Conservative MP for Ipswich, said the case raised the question of whether “some of our leading universities truly do respect free speech and different thoughts”.

“It makes nonsense of the claim the free speech bill isn’t needed. Quite clearly, it is needed,” he said.

Nicola Dandridge, chief executive of the Office for Students, said: “We’ve been very clear that we think the bill is needed, that we think there is a serious, evidenced, issue about lack of free speech within universities. We will be working with government as the bill progresses and gets implemented.”

Mr Hunt asked whether the bill would allow the OfS to act on cases such as “cancelling Tony Sewell”.

Ms Dandridge replied that while the OfS has “indirect” powers at the moment, the bill would give it “direct” powers.

“So we would be able to challenge situations such as that, for example,” she said.

Mr Hunt continued: “There’s a lot of these debates that kick off from time to time in the media, but I must just stress the extent and the large number of colleagues who were appalled by that decision by the University of Nottingham.”

He noted that a letter signed by over 40 Tory MPs had been sent to Nottingham on the issue. “And we will not let it lie,” said Mr Hunt.

john.morgan@timeshighereducation.com