Extract from public bill committee stage of the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Bill - Sep 13
Tuesday, 14 September 2021 07:49
Matt Western (Warwick and Leamington) (Lab): This question is for
Professor Kaufmann. About 50 years ago, during the Red Lion Square
disorders, Warwick University student Kevin Gately was sadly killed
in trouble between fascists and a group called Liberation. He was
the first person to die in public disorder for 55 years. Does the
legislation protect our students of today and tomorrow, to avoid
those sorts of confrontations in future? Professor Eric Kaufmann,
Professor of Politics, Birkbeck...Request free trial
(Warwick and Leamington) (Lab): This question is for
Professor Kaufmann. About 50 years ago, during the Red Lion Square
disorders, Warwick University student Kevin Gately
was sadly killed in trouble between fascists and a group called
Liberation. He was the first person to die in public disorder for
55 years. Does the legislation protect our students of today and
tomorrow, to avoid those sorts of confrontations in future?
Professor Eric Kaufmann, Professor of Politics, Birkbeck
College, University of London: I do not think anyone can
predict. That is a public order question and the determination of
the risk would have to be made by the police, for example. I think
this is quite far from the situation that has given rise to the
need for the Bill. It is not really a public order Bill; it is much
more about protecting the everyday rights of academics to speak
out, speak their beliefs and research without detriment. Yes, if
there is likely to be some kind of public order incident, the
police will have to give advice on that...
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