UK education secretary, Gavin Williamson, recently unveiled new plans to stop universities from banning hate speakers, with those that do facing fines.
Williamson said an official will be appointed 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. When explaining his decision to incite the new policies, Williamson referred to when mature student Felix Ngole was expelled from his Sheffield university social work course in 2016 over conduct complaints which said he was spreading hate against LGBTQ+ people.