Free speech rankings from Spiked

The magazine Spiked is descended from Living Marxism although some think it is now more libertarian than socialist. It has just published the latest edition of its free speech university rankings.

These are not actually rankings but a classification or a rating, since they just divide UK universities into three groups. They have been subjected to mockery from sections of the academic blogosphere, including WONKHE, that might be justified on technical grounds. This is, however, such an important topic that any sort of publicity has to be welcomed.

Universities are divided into three categories: 

RED; "A students’ union, university or institution that is hostile to free speech and free expression, mandating explicit restrictions on speech, including, but not limited to, bans on specific ideologies, political affiliations, beliefs, books, speakers or words."

AMBER; "A students’ union, university or institution that chills free speech and free expression through restricting vague and subjective types of speech, such as ‘offensive’ or ‘insulting’ speech, or requiring burdensome vetting procedures for events, speakers, posters or publications. Many policies in this category might not explicitly limit speech, but have the potential to be used to that end, due to purposefully vague or careless wording."

GREEN; "A students’ union, university or institution that, as far as we are aware, places no significant restrictions on free speech and expression – other than where such speech or expression is unlawful."

The roll of honour in the green category includes exactly seven universities, none of them in the Russell Group: Anglia Ruskin, Buckingham, Hertfordshire, Robert Gordon, Trinity St David, West of Scotland, and Winchester.