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Phillipson tried to pull plug on new free speech law days after election

Telegraph
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Bridget Phillipson received a briefing from DfE officials in July on how she could go about revoking new laws.

She took university sector by surprise when she announced on July 26 that she was shelving the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech ) Act.

Ms Phillipson said at the time that she had chosen to “stop” the flagship Tory legislation before it was due to be implemented on Aug 1 “in order to consider options, including its repeal”.

Ms Phillipson is understood to have been overwhelmed by the strength of feeling from academics.

She is now considering reinstating the Act in a stripped-down version of the Act.

The Free Speech Union claimed the move was unlawful by removing protections for certain protected groups.

The High Court has granted her permission to appeal the move.