Free-speech win welcome

Christian free-speech campaigners are hailing a victory after Cambridge University academics vetoed a proposed crackdown.

In a draft plan to alter its existing statement on freedom of speech, the university had said people must be ‘respectful’ of ‘differing opinions’ and ‘diverse identities’.

However, more than 100 scholars and senior staff quickly objected, saying the ‘authoritarian’ proposals could threaten academic freedom. Their amendment to change the phrase ‘respectful of’ to ‘tolerate’ was voted on by members of the University’s governing body and won ‘by a landslide’.