This petition was submitted during the 2019-2024 parliament
Rejected petition Allow Universities to de-platform speakers on certain conditions
The government's proposed "free-speech" legislation for Univerisites will have the effect of abolishing standards of decency and truthfulness for visiting speakers. Universities should be allowed to de-platform speakers on certain conditions.
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The government should allow Universities do de-platform a speaker whose views are either highly bigoted or anti-factual.
The IHRA definition of antisemitism is a great place to start with this. If a visiting speaker is found to exhibit this kind of bigotry against Jews or any other ethnic or religious group then it should be within the write of a Univeristy to de-platform them.
Tying into this is my point about anti-factual speakers. If a speaker is found to be spreading misinformation about the truth of the holocaust or the scientific consenus for climate change then allowing them to speak at a University makes as much sense as a flat-Earther at a geography convention. It should be within the right of a University to de-platform them.
This petition was rejected
Why was this petition rejected?
It’s not clear what the petition is asking the UK Government or Parliament to do.
Petitions need to call on the Government or Parliament to take a specific action. We're not sure exactly what you'd like the Government or Parliament to do.
It's not clear what you mean by 'highly bigoted or anti-factual views'.
If there are specific exemptions or changes to the Government's proposals on free speech and academic freedom at universities which you'd like to see happen, you could start a new petition calling for those exemptions or changes.
You might also like to sign the following petition:
Do not impose new free speech conditions on higher education
https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/575600
We only reject petitions that don’t meet the petition standards.