Labour’s education secretary, Bridget Phillipson, has announced that the controversial Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act 2023 will be put on hold to reconsider its options, including potentially repealing the law. The Act, introduced by the previous Tory government, aimed to uphold freedom of speech on university campuses. However, concerns have been raised that the law would be burdensome on providers and the Office for Students (OfS) watchdog.
Phillipson has indicated that Labour wants to move away from the “culture wars” that have been prevalent on university campuses, with recent protests over differing views on gender identity. While higher education institutions will still have a legal duty to uphold freedom of speech under existing legislation, there are plans to introduce strengthened protections for students facing harassment and sexual misconduct.
The decision to hold off on the implementation of the Act has been met with criticism from the Conservative party, with accusations that Labour is willing to sacrifice free speech protections in pursuit of their own ideological agenda.
In the energy sector, Labour’s energy secretary, Ed Miliband, has highlighted the importance of renewable energy infrastructure, such as windfarms and solar farms, to tackle carbon emissions and bring down energy bills. He has promised to consider new benefits for communities affected by these developments and explore options for community ownership of the assets.
Kemi Badenoch, a potential Conservative leadership candidate, has also faced scrutiny after a dossier was circulated accusing her of making abusive remarks in anonymous blog comments 17 years ago. She has dismissed these claims as part of a “dirty tricks” campaign, emphasizing the need for better discourse in politics.
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