More than nine in 10 UK universities restrict free speech on campus, report claims

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. The Free Speech University Rankings, drawn from examining the policies and bans of 115 universities and students’ unions, found almost two thirds were “severely” restrictive of free speech, with more than 30 per cent given an “amber” warning. Speaking to The Independent, leading human rights and free speech advocate Peter Tatchell said the report’s findings were indicative of a grave situation for universities. He said: “Universities are systematically stifling free speech on campus, while students’ unions take all the flak. “While students’ unions are significantly more censorious – and deserve all the criticism they get – universities often share and affirm their illiberal, patronising outlook.” The Free Speech University Rankings in full Red – universities that have banned and actively censored ideas on campus: Abertay Aberystwyth Aston Bath Bath Spa Bedforshire Birkbeck Birmingham Birmingham City Bournemouth Bradford Bristol Brunel Cardiff Cardiff Met Chichester City Coventry Cumbria Derby Dundee Durham Edge Hill Edinburgh Essex Gloucestershire Glyndwr Goldsmiths Greenwich Huddersfield Hull Kingston King's College Lancaster Leeds Leeds Beckett Leicester Lincoln Liverpool Hope LJMU London South Bank LSE Manchester Metropolitan Manchester Middlesex Newcastle Northampton Nottingham Oxford Plymouth Portsmouth Queen Margaret Queen Mary Reading Roehampton Royal Holloway Salford Sheffield Sheffield Hallam Staffordshire Stirling Strathclyde Surrey Sessex Swansea University College London University of East Anglia University of East London University of the West of England Warwick Westminster Wolverhampton York St John Amber – universities that have chilled free speech through intervention: Aberdeen Anglia Ruskin Bangor Bolton Brighton Cambridge Canterbury Chester De Montfort Edinburgh Napier Exeter Glasgow Imperial Keele Kent Leeds Trinity Liverpool London Metropolitan Northumbria Nottingham Trent Oxford Brookes Queen's Belfast SOAS Solent South Wales Southampton St Andrews Sunderland Teeside UCLAN Ulster University of West London Winchester Worcester York Green – universities with a hands-off approach to free speech: Buckingham Glasgow Caledonian Hertfordshire Loughborough Robert Gordon Trinity St David University of West Scotland