University of Sussex fined record £585,000 by regulator in free speech case
The University of Sussex has been fined £585,000 by the higher education regulator for failing to uphold freedom of speech.
The Office for Students (OfS) criticised the university’s policy statement on transgender and non-binary equality, saying that it could lead staff and students to “self-censor”.
The policy has a requirement to “positively represent trans people” and asserts that “transphobic propaganda [would] not be tolerated”.
Professor Kathleen Stock after being made an OBE for services to higher education. Pic: PA
The university said it will legally challenge the OfS’s decision and accused the regulator of pursuing a “politically motivated” inquiry against it that resulted in “egregious and concocted” findings.
The OfS launched its investigation after campus protests calling for the dismissal of Professor Kathleen Stock.
She left the university in 2021 after being accused of transphobia when she published a book questioning whether gender identity was more “socially significant” than biological sex.
The OfS said the University of Sussex’s policy had a “chilling effect” on Prof Stock’s views.
“Professor Stock said that she became more cautious in her expression of gender critical views as a result of the policy,” the OfS said in a statement.
“There were some views she did not feel able to express, and therefore teach, despite those views being lawful.”
Professor Sasha Roseneil, the vice chancellor at the university, said the OfS findings mean “it is now virtually impossible for universities to prevent abuse, harassment, or bullying on our campuses”.
“Under this ruling, we believe that universities would not be permitted to expect their staff and students to treat each other with civility and respect,” she said.
“The OfS is effectively decreeing libertarian free speech absolutism as the fundamental principle for UK universities. In our view, the OfS is perpetuating the culture wars.”
Prof Roseneil has claimed that the OfS did not interview anyone from the university in its three-and-a-half-year investigation and that the fine is “wholly disproportionate”.
“The behaviour of the OfS sets a dangerous precedent and constitutes serious regulatory overreach in service of a politically motivated inquiry,” she said.
She added that the investigation findings “leave universities unable to have policies to prevent abusive, bullying and harassing speech and that will perpetuate the culture wars”.
The University of Sussex
The OfS was given the power in January to issue fines where freedom of speech was not upheld at a university.
The fine issued to the University of Sussex is the largest-ever issued by the regulator, with the institution saying it’s 15 times larger than any other sanction imposed.
Read more: Controversial free-speech law delayed ‘over anti-semitism fears’
Arif Ahmed, the director for freedom of speech and academic freedom at the OfS, said that the regulator’s probe “also found deficiencies in the University of Sussex’s decision-making process, with decisions about important free speech and equality matters taken by people without the authority to do so”.
“Those decisions may not have been in the best interests of students and staff,” he said.
“Substantial monetary penalties are appropriate for the scale of wrongdoing we have found.”
Bridget Phillipson, the education secretary, said that “free speech and academic freedom are non-negotiables in our universities”.
“If you go to university you must be prepared to have your views challenged, hear contrary opinions and be exposed to uncomfortable truths,” she said.
“We are giving the OfS stronger powers on freedom of speech so students and academics are not muzzled by the chilling effect demonstrated in this case.”
Counter-terrorism police are investigating after an incident involving a crossbow and a firearm left two women injured in Leeds.
Police were called to Otley Road at 2.47pm on Saturday to reports of a “serious incident involving a man seen with weapons”, West Yorkshire Police said.
Officers arrived at the scene to find two women injured – and a 38-year-old man with a self-inflicted injury. All three were taken to hospital, with the man held under arrest, but their injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.
“Two weapons have been recovered from the scene, which were a crossbow and a firearm,” Counter Terrorism Policing North East said in a statement.
The incident happened on the ‘Otley Run’ pub crawl, with one venue saying it was closed for the evening due to “unforeseen circumstances”.
Officers guard one of the crime scenes
Officers inside the cordon in Leeds
Counter Terrorism Policing’s statement added: “Due to the circumstances surrounding the incident, Counter Terrorism Policing North East have taken responsibility for leading the investigation with the support of West Yorkshire Police.
“Extensive enquiries continue to establish the full circumstances and explore any potential motivation.”
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper described it as a “serious violent incident” and said she was being kept updated by police.
“Thank you to the police and emergency services for their swift response,” she said. “My thoughts are with the victims and all those affected by this attack.”
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Wrexham AFC have been promoted for the third season in a row.
The North Wales-based side has gone from the National League to the Championship in just three seasons, under its Hollywood owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney.
Wrexham were second in the table and had a run of eight games unbeaten ahead of their match against Charlton Athletic on Saturday, which they won 3-0.
Wrexham’s James McClean lifts the League One trophy. Pic: PA
Wrexham’s Dan Scarr celebrates with the fans on the pitch after Wrexham won promotion to the Championship. Pic: PA
It is the first time any club has been promoted for three consecutive seasons within the top five tiers of English football.
The third oldest association football club in the world, Wrexham AFC was bought by Reynolds and McElhenney in 2020, and has since been the subject of a Disney+ documentary, Welcome To Wrexham.
Reynolds, wearing a Wrexham sweatshirt, and McElhenney were pictured celebrating each goal, and after the game, as the fans came onto the pitch at the SToK Cae Ras (Racecourse Ground) to celebrate the victory with the players.
Wrexham co-owners Rob McElhenney (L) and Ryan Reynolds and Ryan’s wife Blake Lively, before the match. Pic: PA
Both stars came onto the pitch after the supporters returned to the stands.
Speaking to Sky Sports, McElhenney praised those behind the scenes, referring to “so many that don’t get the credit they deserve, people who aren’t talked about”.
Reynolds said bringing success back to the club “seemed like an impossible dream” when they arrived in North Wales in 2020.
Wrexham’s Sam Smith celebrates in front of the fans after Wrexham won promotion to the Championship. Pic: PA
He put the three promotions down to “the coaching staff, the greatest dressing room” and an “all for one, one for all” attitude throughout the club, adding he was “speechless with their commitment and their emotion”.
As for the mouth-watering prospect of another promotion to the promised land of the Premier League, the pair agreed it was “for tomorrow”, before ending the interview with a joint mic-drop.
Veteran striker Steven Fletcher said, “as soon as I came to this club, I knew it was something special. We want to go again. We’ll reset in the summer, take a break and go again”.
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