Jo Johnson, the universities minister, said any university that failed to protect freedom of speech could be fined Times photographer Richard Pohle

Universities must pledge to uphold free speech on campus or face being blacklisted by the new higher education regulator, the government will announce today.

It will force universities to challenge the culture of so-called safe spaces and to answer for the behaviour of student unions that “no platform” controversial speakers.

Jo Johnson, the universities minister, said any that failed to protect freedom of speech could be fined, suspended or ultimately deregistered by the new Office for Students (OfS) in an extensive reorganisation of the sector.

He told The Times that all universities would have a statutory duty to make the commitment in their governance documents as a condition of registration with the OfS.

In a hard-hitting interview Mr Johnson said that he would also push…