Government free speech push ‘entirely’ on universities’ side

Conservative manifesto author tells vice-chancellors thinking behind focus on free speech

The government believes that it is “entirely on the side of the principles of universities” when it comes to free speech, a Conservative party adviser has said.

Rachel Wolf, a founding partner of the think tank Public First and a co-writer of the Conservatives’ 2019 manifesto, told delegates at a Universities UK forum on political affairs in higher education on 20 May that ministers’ plans to legislate on free speech in higher education were based on real conviction.