Unis no longer allowed to ban controversial people from speaking on campus

Controversial speakers can no longer be blocked from giving talks at universities.

Students, SUs and universities will not be allowed to refuse their visit, according to new government rules on no-platforming.

The new rules mean the Office for Students, which came into force on April 1, could name and shame or even fine institutions if they don't uphold the rules of free speech.

The recent inquiry into free speech at university found that campaigners against abortion, Christian groups and secularists were among those who felt that it was hard to get a hearing at universities.

Feminists who oppose transgender identification said they also "found it hard" to speak on campus.

This decision has come from the first government intervention on free speech on campus in the last 30 years.

The Universities Minister, Sam Gyimah, will announce the tough guidance on no-platforming at a meeting today. He described students' attempts to silence speakers as "chilling."

He will accuse some student societies of “institutional hostility” to controversial yet lawful views.