Cambridge University has been forced to drop rules requiring students, lecturers and visitors to “respect” opposing views after overwhelming opposition from academics.
In a vote crucial to the free speech issue and watched closely by other universities, dons successfully challenged a “vague and authoritarian” policy they feared would stifle debate and threaten staff with disciplinary action or sacking for being disrespectful.
The amended version will also make it almost impossible to “no platform” speakers by cancelling their invitation, a controversial practice condemned by ministers and other critics.
Stephen Fry, the comedian and Cambridge graduate, said this morning: “Good sense prevailed: how often has one been able to say that in this year of years? As E.M. Forster, that Cambridge apostle of tolerance put it ‘Two
