Students must not be shielded from views they disagree with under the banner of “safe spaces”, the universities minister has said, as he warns that the practise is “closing minds”.

The “worrying” trend of students seeking to "stifle” opinions that are counter to their own has swept across American campuses and is now gathering pace at British universities, Jo Johnson will say on Tuesday.

In a speech at the Limmud Festival in Birmingham, a celebration of Jewish learning and culture, he will warn that free speech is a key part of university life.