More than nine in 10 UK universities are restrictive of free speech, according to a new report that raises concerns over the issue of censorship on campuses.

Analysis by Spiked magazine, supported by the Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust, suggested campus censorship had increased steadily over the past three years – with a growing number of institutions actively clamping down on ideas, literature and guest speakers that are not in keeping with their own values.

The Free Speech University Rankings (FSUR), drawn from examining the policies and bans of 115 universities and students’ unions, found almost two thirds (63.5 per cent) were “severely” restrictive of free speech, with more than 30 per cent given an “amber” warning.

Russell Group institutions were found to be significantly more censorious that the average, with four of the five most restrictive institutions part of this group – Cardiff, Edinburgh, Newcastle and the University of Oxford.

The Universities of Buckingham, Trinity St David and the University of the West of Scotland were among just seven institutions found to have no restrictions or regulated speech and expression.

While several universities were noted for their policies to ban selected academics and speakers deemed too controversial from appearing on campus, the FSUR also highlighted more unfamiliar restrictions.

These included a ban on dressing up as Caitlyn Jenner at Newcastle, a restriction on “blasphemy” at London South Bank University, and a policy at the University of Surrey insisting its mascot, Steve the Stag, isn’t depicted by students drinking, smoking or “involved in lewd acts”.

Speaking to The Independent, leading human rights and free speech advocate Peter Tatchell said the report’s findings were indicative of a grave situation for universities.

He said: “Universities used to be bastions of free speech and open debate. As this report shows, they are increasingly hedging free speech with all kinds of qualifications, making it no longer free.

”These include having to give lengthy advance notice of external speakers and having to invite an opposition speaker for any contentious issue.

Top 10 universities in the UK according to the Times Higher Education Show all 10 1 /10 Top 10 universities in the UK according to the Times Higher Education Top 10 universities in the UK according to the Times Higher Education 1. University of Oxford Rank 2016-17 Getty Top 10 universities in the UK according to the Times Higher Education 2. University of Cambridge Rank 2016-17 AFP/Getty Top 10 universities in the UK according to the Times Higher Education 3. Imperial College London Rank 2016-17 Getty Images Top 10 universities in the UK according to the Times Higher Education 4. University College London Rank 2016-17 Top 10 universities in the UK according to the Times Higher Education 5. London School of Economics Rank 2016-17 Top 10 universities in the UK according to the Times Higher Education 6. University of Edinburgh Rank 2016-17 Top 10 universities in the UK according to the Times Higher Education 7. King’s College London Rank 2016-17 Top 10 universities in the UK according to the Times Higher Education 8. University of Manchester Rank 2016-17 Top 10 universities in the UK according to the Times Higher Education 9. University of Bristol Rank 2016-17 Top 10 universities in the UK according to the Times Higher Education 10. 10. University of Warwick Rank 2016-17 University of Warwick via Facebook

“While banning Islamist and far right speakers who endorse violence against women and minorities is justified, many of the current restrictions are not.

He added:”I was shocked to discover that my local university, London South Bank, bans speakers who are likely to commit blasphemy - even though it is not a criminal offence. This seems to be an excessive accommodation to religious pressure.“

Mr Tatchell is one of a number of campaigners to hit out at universities for banning selected academics from speaking on campus, branding the move an assault on free speech.

A poll from last year, however, suggested nearly two-thirds of UK students were in favour of no-platform policies, whereby individuals or groups with opinions considered too controversial or offensive can be banned from student union premises.

Commenting on the rankings, Malia Bouattia, President of the National Union of Students, criticised the findings as “flawed” and “absurd”.

She said: “No Platform and Safe Space policies create an environment where students and staff are free from harassment and fear.

Malia Bouattia interview

“This is about creating communities that all can participate in without the risk of violence or abuse. This ranking system is about privileging the liberty of a few to demonise the liberty of others.”

“This ranking is as absurd as it is flawed. The online magazine condemns institutions and students’ unions for holding policies that ‘prevent groups which present a threat to women’s safety’ or for staff to be treated fairly in the workplace.

“This campaign for free speech at all costs, fails to recognise the impact these polices make on those they serve to support.”

Over the past three academic years, institutions have enacted 129 bans.

Some 21 universities have banned speakers, 20 have banned newspapers, 17 have banned particular adverts, 16 have suspended student societies and nine have banned offensive fancy dress.

When considered separately, analysts noted that students’ unions had stricter censorship policies than university administrations overall.

But university censorship is said to be growing at a much faster rate: the proportion of high-concern or “red” universities has risen this year to 23.5 per cent up from 15 per cent in 2016.

The NUS official “no-platform” list contains six groups including the British National Party and Al-Muhajiroun, a banned Islamic network in the UK.

Individual unions and student groups can however decide on their own policies and reject people on an individual basis. Current NUS guidelines ask student unions to “balance freedom of speech and freedom from harm”.

​FSUR coordinator Tom Slater said this gives the lie to the idea that campus censorship is entirely the work of illiberal student leaders.

He said: “Universities are systematically stifling free speech on campus, while students’ unions take all the flak. We’ve always maintained that campus censorship is about more than the so-called ‘snowflake generation’ throwing its weight around, and this year’s findings reflect that.

“Students’ unions have been pilloried for censoring ‘transphobic’ speech, and enforcing transgender pronouns. But our research shows that the vast majority of policies in this area stem from universities themselves.

“While students’ unions are significantly more censorious – and deserve all the criticism they get – universities often share and affirm their illiberal, patronising outlook.”

The Free Speech University Rankings in full

Red – universities that have banned and actively censored ideas on campus:

Abertay

Aberystwyth

Aston

Bath

Bath Spa

Bedforshire

Birkbeck

Birmingham

Birmingham City

Bournemouth

Bradford

Bristol

Brunel

Cardiff

Cardiff Met

Chichester

City

Coventry

Cumbria

Derby

Dundee

Durham

Edge Hill

Edinburgh

Essex

Gloucestershire

Glyndwr

Goldsmiths

Greenwich

Huddersfield

Hull

Kingston

King's College

Lancaster

Leeds

Leeds Beckett

Leicester

Lincoln

Liverpool Hope

LJMU

London South Bank

LSE

Manchester Metropolitan

Manchester

Middlesex

Newcastle

Northampton

Nottingham

Oxford

Plymouth

Portsmouth

Queen Margaret

Queen Mary

Reading

Roehampton

Royal Holloway

Salford

Sheffield

Sheffield Hallam

Staffordshire

Stirling

Strathclyde

Surrey

Sessex

Swansea

University College London

University of East Anglia

University of East London

University of the West of England

Warwick

Westminster

Wolverhampton

York St John

Amber – universities that have chilled free speech through intervention:

Aberdeen

Anglia Ruskin

Bangor

Bolton

Brighton

Cambridge

Canterbury

Chester

De Montfort

Edinburgh Napier

Exeter

Glasgow

Imperial

Keele

Kent

Leeds Trinity

Liverpool

London Metropolitan

Northumbria

Nottingham Trent

Oxford Brookes

Queen's Belfast

SOAS

Solent

South Wales

Southampton

St Andrews

Sunderland

Teeside

UCLAN

Ulster

University of West London

Winchester

Worcester

York



Green – universities with a hands-off approach to free speech: