Christian and pro-life groups should not be barred from university campuses, says equalities chief

An aerial view of the University of Oxford (Photo: Unsplash/Sidharth Bhatia)

Universities have been told they must protect free speech on campus, including by allowing Christians, pro-life groups and others who hold minority views, to affiliate.

The Chair of the Equalities and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), David Isaac, said in an address at the Theos conference in London that people were "rightly" concerned about stories being reported in the media of "silencing" and no-platforming - where certain people are blocked from speaking on campus. 

Mr Isaac, a former Chair of Stonewall, said he was aware of cases where Christian and pro-life groups had been denied access to rooms on campus or prevented from having a stall at the Freshers' Fair. 

He criticised this approach, saying: "This is not consistent with ensuring freedom of speech on campus, and the EHRC guidance makes clear that it should not happen." 

He went as far as to say that he believed some students' unions were "promoting their own very narrow policies which don't extend the principles of freedom of expression". 

"One has to remind students' unions, and the universities in which those students' unions sit, about their current legal obligations which I think would allow affiliations of pro-life organisations and groups," he said. 

Although he said that the problem of no-platforming had been "overstated", he said universities and students' unions had a responsibility to comply with freedom of speech laws, and promote "respectful and open" debate. 

"The default in our view, when considering all the legal duties that currently exist, is that events should be allowed to go ahead wherever possible," he said. 

He also welcomed the social media charter published by the Church of England earlier this week calling for more respectful engagement online as he said that social media was making the polarisation of opinion "much worse". 

"It can be a minefield for educators when we're living in an age of hypersensitivity - or perceived hypersensitivity - where it's increasingly easy for people to feel offended or for others to be worried about protecting minority groups," he said. 

Several pro-life groups have struggled to affiliate with British universities in the past year.  The application of the Aberdeen Life Ethics Society (ALES) was only approved by the Aberdeen University Students' Association after the group threatened legal action. 

Similarly, the Glasgow Students for Life (GSL) was granted affiliation after it too threatened a legal challenge against the Glasgow University Students' Representative Council. 

Notts Students for Life is the latest pro-life group to have been refused affiliation with a university. 

In 2017, the Christian Union was barred from a Freshers' Fair at Balliol College, Oxford, because the vice-president of its Junior Common Room committee said their presence could cause "potential harm" to new students. 

News
The story of the pope known as the Apostle to the English
The story of the pope known as the Apostle to the English

Pope Gregory I, known as Gregory the Great, was one of the most important popes, and his positive legacy is still felt today - not least in Britain. This is the story … 

Christians redouble efforts to stop assisted suicide
Christians redouble efforts to stop assisted suicide

Christians are doubling down on efforts to stop assisted suicide becoming legal in England and Wales after Kim Leadbeater's bill was debated in Westminster on Friday. 

Christian leaders unite in Westminster to kick off 2025 ‘Shine Your Light’ evangelism campaign
Christian leaders unite in Westminster to kick off 2025 ‘Shine Your Light’ evangelism campaign

More than 100 Christian leaders recently came together at a parliamentary reception in London for the launch of Shine Your Light 2025 — a bold evangelistic initiative aiming to bring the message of Christ to streets, neighbourhoods, and marketplaces across the UK.

Darlington nurses still waiting for single-sex changing space despite Supreme Court ruling
Darlington nurses still waiting for single-sex changing space despite Supreme Court ruling

An NHS trust has been accused of continually flouting the law around women’s rights by requiring female nurses to get changed in front of a biologically male nurse who goes by the name of “Rose”.