Why is the government so afraid of students having free speech?

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has announced a new government initiative, in which a ‘free speech tsar’ will be appointed to combat the rise of cancel culture at British Universities. The favourite for the role appears to be Arif Ahmed, a Cambridge Professor, who has gone on record stating University “should be an environment where you can say pretty much anything you like” which make one question is a security measure for free speech counter-intuitive? 

The foundational reason arguing for the ‘free speech tsar’ is simply ensuring those who speak freely are protected – however these foundations are anything but stable. It appears Sunak’s true grounds for this new appointee are connected to his proclaimed ‘war on the woke,’ and assumably would take a similar role to his planned ‘watchdog’ to vet supposed Left-wing bishops. This watchdog comes after Phillip North was announced the next Bishop of Blackburn, only to withdraw over his comments opposing female priests. Cabinet member and Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch has rebutted these ‘culture wars’ in her pioneering of Sunak’s new campaign. Because, of course, gender equality is just a silly woke idea by the left. 

With this framework applied to Universities, it is difficult to envision the new ‘free speech tsar’ as anything other than counterproductive to authentic student voices. If Rishi Sunak’s plan to ‘stamp out cancel culture’ on university campuses is to allow the breeding of bigoted voices, then I am confident in the response of students – a continuous rejection of hateful ideology and in turn rejection of the Conservative party. 

The Mail online reported No 10’s confidence in the new venture, describing Ahmed as someone who can stand up to the “statue-smashing, history-erasing thought police.” To this brave anonymous Tory, I would love to point out how many of the so called ‘woke students’  do not seek to erase Britain’s long history, but instead take responsibility for it, the good, the bad and the colonialism. Why is it those in power are terrified by students drawing attention to the tragic, twisted and awful past in British history? Or why do those in power have such a desperate need to keep their former intolerant, bigoted leaders in icon status?

The calculated spin of ‘cancel culture’ has created an attractive out for the intolerant. You’re calling me racist? Oh, that’s just silly cancel culture. I’m a homophobe? No, you’re just trying to cancel me! Transphobic? Cancel culture! In reality, being the most diverse generation on all fronts, why would we want a bigot representing us? In fact, I would even propose we ‘cancel’ their platform. More importantly, is a professor being removed from their post due to discrimination and bigotry a ‘cancellation’ or simply justice? I must be clear, I unequivocally do not support ‘mob rule’ or ‘trial by fire’ but a bigot being removed for spewing harmful intolerance is not cancellation, it is justice. Students speaking out against bigotry is not for culture wars, it is protecting ourselves and our peer’s safety. 

With strikes and protests taking place nationally as a response to Conservative incompetence, it does leave one to wonder who would benefit from this new policing of language. This month UCU strikes will take place in 150 UK Universities with an unprecedented 70,000 members striking – and none of which are protesting censored speech. Has Rishi Suank considered an equal pay, ethical working environment Tsar?