Dr Prakash Shah has co-signed a letter in The Observer criticizing Labour's decision to halt the progression of the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act.
Labour has decided to not move forward Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act "in order to consider options, including its repeal”. The act was due to come into effect on 1 August. The decision has drawn criticism from university educators.
A letter to The Observer, signed by a cross-university group of academics including Dr Prakash Shah, Reader in Culture and Law at Queen Mary University of London, said:
"The act, whose main provisions were due to come into force on 1 August, would have significantly strengthened protection for free speech in universities, by empowering academics to bring complaints to the Office for Students.
We believe that academic freedom is a basic public good and a cornerstone of our democracy. It is also clearly under threat. We urge the Labour government to implement the act."
Read the full letter and list of signatories on The Observer.