Powers to protect free speech and stop controversial speakers from being ... trends now
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Powers to protect free speech and stop speakers from being cancelled at universities are set to become law.
The Government has rowed back on plans to water down the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Bill, which will allow academics and students to sue universities for breaching their free speech rights.
Amendments that would have meant lecturers and students could seek compensation in court only as a last resort were dropped after a backlash from MPs and free speech campaigners.
The U-turn will anger some Tory peers who voted to scrap the law that would allow universities to be sued for free speech breaches entirely in December.
Claire Coutinho, minister for children, families and wellbeing, said it was an essential part of the Bill 'that academics, students and speakers must be able to go to court when their rights to free speech have been