Submitted on Sunday 21st February 2021
Rejected on Tuesday 9th March 2021
Current status: Rejected
Rejection code: no-action (see below for details)
Allow Universities to de-platform speakers on certain conditions
The government's proposed "free-speech" legislation for Univerisites will have the effect of abolishing standards of decency and truthfulness for visiting speakers. Universities should be allowed to de-platform speakers on certain conditions.
The government should allow Universities do de-platform a speaker whose views are either highly bigoted or anti-factual.
The IHRA definition of antisemitism is a great place to start with this. If a visiting speaker is found to exhibit this kind of bigotry against Jews or any other ethnic or religious group then it should be within the write of a Univeristy to de-platform them.
Tying into this is my point about anti-factual speakers. If a speaker is found to be spreading misinformation about the truth of the holocaust or the scientific consenus for climate change then allowing them to speak at a University makes as much sense as a flat-Earther at a geography convention. It should be within the right of a University to de-platform them.
You can't sign this petition because it was rejected. But you can still comment on it here at Repetition.me!
The Government e-Petitions Team gave the following reason:
Petitions need to call on the Government or Parliament to take a specific action. We're not sure exactly what you'd like the Government or Parliament to do.
It's not clear what you mean by 'highly bigoted or anti-factual views'.
If there are specific exemptions or changes to the Government's proposals on free speech and academic freedom at universities which you'd like to see happen, you could start a new petition calling for those exemptions or changes.
You might also like to sign the following petition:
Do not impose new free speech conditions on higher education
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/575600
3.16.69.143 Sat, 04 May 2024 12:59:16 +0100
