Oxford University Reform Society (OURS)

We recast unlawful assembly & fear or provocation of violence offences in s4 and 5 of Schedule 2 specifically with the heckler's veto, and blockage of event entryways, in mind. More on the model Freedom of Speech Bill, here; adamsmith.org/research/the-f…

'Stand Up To Racism', 'Hope Not Hate', The Guardian and the usual selection of Oxbridge activists hewn from the humanities departments will be running their campus playbook here – placard waving, threats to person, reputation and property designed create a disruption/safety risk. This is how they seek to force a heckler’s veto. The Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act 2023 (A1 of the amended Higher Education and Research Act 2017) requires colleges to take reasonably practicable steps to secure lawful speech and not deny premises based on a speaker’s (@nathancofnas) views. Safety concerns – like those activists seek to create – only justify refusal if specific and unmanageable. I note that @OxUniRFMSoc have catalogued a few such threats on their page. Remember that the decolonise sympathetic rabble will want to create more such threats to justify a cancellation. Oriel College (@OrielOxford) and @OxUniRFMSoc should hold the line. Of course, a Freedom of Speech Bill that is worthy of the title would help in these situations – here's one we made earlier, it was published by @ASI: adamsmith.org/research/the-f…