Government terror legislation under fire from sector

The government’s efforts to include universities in controversial new terror legislation has been widely criticised by the sector. Writing in Times Higher Education, the vice-chancellor of Essex University, Anthony Forster, says the new laws would see universities become agents of the state and limit freedom to conduct research, teach, speak, and publish without interference or penalty. Forster is also one of a host of signatories to a letter in the Times criticising the plans. As the Guardian reports, even Tory peers have joined the criticism.

UCU is campaigning against proposals in the Counter-Terrorism and Security Bill that the union believes would represent a draconian crackdown on academic freedom and you are invited to sign and circulate our petition calling on government to withdraw the plans.