London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Saturday, May 31, 2025

Cambridge ranked one of UK’s worst universities for free speech, days after institution pledged to ‘tolerate’ all views

Cambridge ranked one of UK’s worst universities for free speech, days after institution pledged to ‘tolerate’ all views

A report penned by a think tank has flagged Cambridge University as hostile to free speech, barely a week after the prestigious UK university received accolades for pledging a new tolerance within its halls for all viewpoints.
The institution was ranked among the worst UK universities for free speech by the London-based Institute for the Study of Civil Society, known as Civitas. The think tank’s Free Speech University Rankings (FSUR) listed Cambridge as one of 48 other universities, including Oxford, as “most restrictive” when it comes to free expression.

Civitas analysed over three years of campus censorship between 2017 and 2020 on 137 different UK campuses, assessing a number of variables, including to what degree student societies discourage free speech, as well as how speech codes and harassment policies may restrict open debate. Of the surveyed institutions, 35 percent were given the “most restrictive” designation in regards to free speech, while only 14 percent were deemed “mostly friendly” to an open marketplace of ideas.

The think tank cited the rise of “cancel culture” as a driving factor behind growing hostility towards the free exchange of views. Among other worrying trends, it found that many UK universities use “perceived transphobic episodes” to justify censorship.

In free-speech-stifling examples specific to Cambridge, Civitas noted a number of controversies, including an incident earlier this year in which students demanded that a commemorative window in honor of eugenicist Sir Ronald Fisher be removed. Gonville and Caius, one of the university’s oldest colleges, eventually relented in the face of the student campaign.

Ironically, Cambridge received widespread praise last week, after it voted to encourage “tolerance” rather than “respect” for all viewpoints. The amendment to the university’s ‘Statement on Freedom of Speech’ was seen by many as a victory against ‘woke’ activism in academia.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Satirical Sketch Sparks Political Spouse Feud in South Korea
Indonesia Quarry Collapse Leaves Multiple Dead and Missing
South Korean Election Video Pulled Amid Misogyny Outcry
Asian Economies Shift Away from US Dollar Amid Trade Tensions
Netflix Investigates Allegations of On-Set Mistreatment in K-Drama Production
US Defence Chief Reaffirms Strong Ties with Singapore Amid Regional Tensions
Vietnam Faces Strategic Dilemma Over China's Mekong River Projects
Malaysia's First AI Preacher Sparks Debate on Islamic Principles
White House Press Secretary Criticizes Harvard Funding, Advocates for Vocational Training
France to Implement Nationwide Smoking Ban in Outdoor Spaces Frequented by Children
Meta and Anduril Collaborate on AI-Driven Military Augmented Reality Systems
Russia's Fossil Fuel Revenues Approach €900 Billion Since Ukraine Invasion
U.S. Justice Department Reduces American Bar Association's Role in Judicial Nominations
U.S. Department of Energy Unveils 'Doudna' Supercomputer to Advance AI Research
U.S. SEC Dismisses Lawsuit Against Binance Amid Regulatory Shift
Alcohol Industry Faces Increased Scrutiny Amid Health Concerns
Italy Faces Population Decline Amid Youth Emigration
U.S. Goods Imports Plunge Nearly 20% Amid Tariff Disruptions
OpenAI Faces Competition from Cheaper AI Rivals
Foreign Tax Provision in U.S. Budget Bill Alarms Investors
Trump Accuses China of Violating Trade Agreement
Gerry Adams Wins Libel Case Against BBC
Russia Accuses Serbia of Supplying Arms to Ukraine
EU Central Bank Pushes to Replace US Dollar with Euro as World’s Main Currency
Chinese Woman Dies After Being Forced to Visit Bank Despite Critical Illness
President Trump Grants Full Pardons to Reality TV Stars Todd and Julie Chrisley
Texas Enacts App Store Accountability Act Mandating Age Verification
U.S. Health Secretary Ends Select COVID-19 Vaccine Recommendations
Vatican Calls for Sustainable Tourism in 2025 Message
Trump Warns Putin Is 'Playing with Fire' Amid Escalating Ukraine Conflict
India and Pakistan Engage Trump-Linked Lobbyists to Influence U.S. Policy
U.S. Halts New Student Visa Interviews Amid Enhanced Security Measures
Trump Administration Cancels $100 Million in Federal Contracts with Harvard
SpaceX Starship Test Flight Ends in Failure, Mars Mission Timeline Uncertain
King Charles Affirms Canadian Sovereignty Amid U.S. Statehood Pressure
Trump Threatens 25% Tariff on iPhones Amid Dispute with Apple CEO
Putin's Helicopter Reportedly Targeted by Ukrainian Drones
Liverpool Car Ramming Incident Leaves Multiple Injured
Australia Faces Immigration Debate Following Labor Party Victory
Iranian Revolutionary Guard Founder Warns Against Trusting Regime in Nuclear Talks
Macron Dismisses Viral Video of Wife's Gesture as Playful Banter
Cleveland Clinic Study Questions Effectiveness of Recent Flu Vaccine
Netanyahu Accuses Starmer of Siding with Hamas
Junior Doctors Threaten Strike Over 4% Pay Offer
Labour MPs Urge Chancellor to Tax Wealthy Over Cutting Welfare
Publication of UK Child Poverty Strategy Delayed Until Autumn
France Detains UK Fishing Vessel Amid Post-Brexit Tensions
Calls Grow to Resume Syrian Asylum Claims in UK
Nigel Farage Pledges to Reinstate Winter Fuel Payments
Boris and Carrie Johnson Welcome Daughter Poppy
×