Lack of free speech at universities is a ‘great blight of our age’, Lord Lawson says
by Camilla Turner, Telegraph:
Suppression of freedom of speech in universities is “one of the greatest problems of our time”, a former chancellor has warned.
Lord Lawson, who led a Conservative campaign for Brexit, said that political correctness is a “great blight of our age”, adding students often have their way because of “totally supine” university authorities.
“Safe space” and “no platform” movements have swept across campuses including a campaigns to ban certain speakers who are deemed offensive.
Speaking at an event to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the University of Buckingham, the UK’s first private university, he said it is crucial that universities are independent from Government.
“But now we have a new problem in the university sector, which is not the problem of government control – though that always needs to be watched – but the problem of the suppression of free speech,” he told the audience, Times Higher Education reported.
“The problem comes from political correctness to some extent, which is the great blight of this age. A view is either politically correct or not, and if it is not, then it should not be heard.”
He went on: “This is happening throughout the universities today, where it is pushed by students – they may not be the majority of students but they are very vocal and they have their way because of totally supine university authorities.”
Read also: The Death of Facts by Douglas Murray, Gatestone Institute
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