Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Bill — Decline Second Reading — 12 Jul 2021 at 21:39
The majority of MPs voted to strengthen freedom of speech protections in higher education institutions including universities.
MPs were considering the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Bill[1][2][3]
The Bill sought to require higher educational institutions to secure freedom of speech for students, staff and visiting speakers.
The Bill also contained a provision prohibiting discrimination against applicants for academic posts on the grounds they had exercised their freedom of speech.
The motion under consideration was:
- That the Bill be now read a Second time.
The amendment rejected in this vote was:
- to leave out from “That” to the end of the Question and add:
- “this House
- declines to give a Second Reading to the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Bill, notwithstanding the need to ensure legal protections for freedom of speech and academic freedom, because the Bill is a hate speech protection bill which could provide legal protection and financial recompense to those seeking to engage in harmful and dangerous speech on university campuses, including Holocaust denial, racism, and anti-vaccination messages.”
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- [1] Parliament's webpage on the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Bill, Parliament.uk
- [2] Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Bill, as introduced, 12 May 2021, Parliament.uk
- [3] Explanatory notes to the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Bill, as introduced, 12 May 2021, Parliament.uk
Party Summary
Votes by party, red entries are votes against the majority for that party.
What is Tell? '+1 tell' means that in addition one member of that party was a teller for that division lobby.
What are Boths? An MP can vote both aye and no in the same division. The boths page explains this.
What is Turnout? This is measured against the total membership of the party at the time of the vote.
| Party | Majority (No) | Minority (Aye) | Both | Turnout |
| Alliance | 0 | 1 | 0 | 100.0% |
| Con | 358 (+2 tell) | 0 | 0 | 98.9% |
| DUP | 5 | 0 | 0 | 62.5% |
| Green | 0 | 1 | 0 | 100.0% |
| Independent | 1 | 4 | 0 | 100.0% |
| Lab | 0 | 195 (+2 tell) | 0 | 99.0% |
| LDem | 0 | 12 | 0 | 100.0% |
| PC | 0 | 3 | 0 | 100.0% |
| Total: | 364 | 216 | 0 | 98.5% |
Rebel Voters - sorted by party
MPs for which their vote in this division differed from the majority vote of their party. You can see all votes in this division, or every eligible MP who could have voted in this division
Sort by: Name | Constituency | Party | Vote
| Name | Constituency | Party | Vote | |
| no rebellions | ||||