UK: Sunak Names First 'Free Speech Czar'

Facts

• UK PM Rishi Sunak has reportedly appointed Cambridge philosophy professor Arif Ahmed as the country's free speech czar to combat "cancel culture" at universities. This is the first position of its kind in the nation.¹
• Ahmed — whose new role is being established under the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Bill, which is circulating through parliament — argued last year that a university "should be an environment where you can say pretty much anything you like and other people can say whatever they like as well."²
• The new free speech czar will have the power to investigate universities and student unions in England and Wales that wrongly restrict debate, as well as advise the sector regulator on imposing fines for free speech breaches.¹
• The legislation requires universities to "actively promote" freedom of speech — which extends to student unions — and will set up a new complaints system operated by the Office for Students (OfS) to review claims of suppression.²
• Sunak promised to tackle "woke nonsense" during last summer's leadership election campaign, and it's likely that senior government officials are eager to set up Ahmed's position as quickly as possible so it has an impact before the next general election.¹

Sources: ¹The Telegraph and ²Times.

Narratives

• Left narrative, as provided by BBC. Free speech doesn't mean freedom from consequences, which is what this new "speech czar" will try to impose. The national student unions already promote and protect free speech, but the UK's right-wing government wants to go further and strip professors of their autonomy in the classroom. This is reactionary and regressive.
• Right narrative, as provided by Express. The "woke mob" has overtaken the UK and it's time for the government to end this era of anti-free speech tyranny. Students shouldn't be suspended or demoted simply for their opinions, and these professors, backed by aggressive student mobs, won't change their ways until the prudent government oversight forces them into promoting the foundation of higher education. This is about the free and unfettered exchange of ideas.