Andrea Jenkins served as Minister for Higher Education and Skills from July to October last year. Credit: Leon Neal/Getty Images
Boris Johnson's minister in charge of free speech says she was not allowed to meet with Kathleen Stock because of a 'drop' of public service.
According to Andrea Jenkins, who served as Minister of Higher Education and Skills from July to October last year. for a year, government officials prevented her from seeing feminist speakers such as the gender-critical philosopher and J.K. Rowling.
Ms. aspects.
«Last year I was tasked with passing the university free speech bill, but apparently in the end, I didn't have the opportunity to do so.
«Before I finish, I wanted to talk to J.K. Rowling, [conservative academic] Matthew Goodwin, and Kathleen Stock to find out how bad the atmosphere is at universities in terms of threats to free speech.
“A couple of weeks after I became minister, my private office civil servants said he organizes meetings. However, I kept getting excuses.
Kathleen Stock speaks at the Oxford Union. Photo: Oxford Union/Roger. Askew
The Higher Education (Free Speech) Act received royal assent in May after years of delays.
The law allows academics and students to sue universities and student unions if they do not fulfill «their duty to protect free speech». It also establishes security measures, including a new complaints scheme, to ensure free speech on campuses.
The bill was first introduced in the House of Commons in May 2021. During the summer when Ms Jenkins was Minister for Higher Education for 2022, the bill passed through the House of Lords.
During that period, Ms Jenkins said she had several times suggested potential meetings with gender critical scholars, in including with other ministers.
However, civil servants told her that she had to get approval from the political advisers of the Ministry of Education. , who she said had no problem meeting.
“And then Rishi kicked me out in October, so I didn’t have a chance to push,” she added.
>Last December, the government said it would soften aspects of the bill, making it harder for scientists and students to get compensation from the courts if their free speech rights were violated.
However, in February ministers succumbed to pressure from free speech activists to rescind the proposed amendments, making filing lawsuits against universities a last resort only after the relevant complaints procedures from the higher education regulator and academic institutions had been exhausted.
Gender Critical Views Stock
Professor Stock resigned from her post as professor of philosophy at the University of Sussex in 2021 following a campaign of intimidation by trans activists for her gender-critical views.
On Tuesday, the police were forced to remove the protesters from the performance. she was present at the Oxford Union, where leaflets were handed out saying that a scientist was «not welcome here.»
One trans activist, who interrupted the conversation by taping her hand to the floor, was dragged off arrest,” Thames Valley Police said.
Reese Possnett insulted Professor Stock on Twitter ahead of the protest, writing: “You have a freaking nervous Kathleen. You have brought your hatred into our community and now you are using the threats «we» receive because of your «actions» to try and generate more empathy for your victim narrative. Oxford doesn't need your fanaticism and we'll let you know.»
Conservative MPs criticized the police decision to lift Possnett's arrest.
Marco Longhi, MP for Dudley, said: «That What gets people irritated is not just the condescending behavior of a few people, it's the completely inconsistent way the police choose to act when people's lives are disrupted.
“Of course they should have been charged. Many ordinary people can be forgiven for thinking that some police officers either sympathize with these protesters or just don't want to act.»
Jonathan Gullis, Conservative MP and former Minister of Education, said: «Police must stand up for women's rights, protect women and believe that people cannot be canceled just because some trans extremists want to advance their political agenda through intimidation and bullying.»
Meanwhile, Matthew Dick, 20-year-old president The Oxford Union told The Telegraph that it thought the protests were «very peaceful» and «very respectful.»
He continued: «I wouldn't say there's any threat… for everyone, who wants to exercise their freedom of speech on gender issues or on most issues at Oxford.”
The President said he wanted J.K. Rowling to be a future speaker in the Union, but added that the author had not yet accepted his invitation.
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