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UNIVERSITIES across Britain will be forced to uphold free-speech under plans being drawn by the Governments new Office for Students.

Institutions that refuse to make the commitment will be fined, suspended or deregistered by the OfS.

Several controversial speakers have been banned from UK universities in recent years for their views, including feminist author Germaine Greer and gay rights campaigner Peter Tatchell.

Jo Johnson, Universities Minister, told the Times that universities would have to make the commitment in their governance documents as a condition of registration with the OfS.

“Freedom of speech is a fundamentally British value which is undermined by a reluctance of institutions to embrace healthy vigorous debate. Our universities must open minds not close them,” Johnson said.

The OfS will be responsible for university funding, quality and standards and which organisations can call themselves universities.