Fabian Society - the UK’s oldest think-tank - Bill Rammell lecture: Academic Freedom in the 21st Century

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The Fabian events programme hosts some of the most prominent public events in British politics. We hold major conferences, lectures and public debates and small invitation only expert policy seminars, including our prestigious Fabian Policy Networks working with a wide range of partner organisations. The events programme can be viewed here , or in our online calendar.

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Bill Rammell lecture: Academic Freedom in the 21st Century

Tuesday, 27th November 2007

Far right speakers such as Nick Griffin and David Irving should not be banned from speaking at British universities because scrutiny was the best antidote to extremist views, argued Higher Education Minister Bill Rammell in a Fabian lecture inviting the academic community to open a major public debate about how free inquiry can challenge and refute violent extremism.

Academic freedom is one of the most powerful means to challenge and refute violent extremism, Higher Education Minister Bill Rammell argued.

The minister argued against boycotts and 'no platform' policies because the best antidote to offensive and extremist views was to expose them to critical scrutiny in open debate.

Rammell described his speech as a "starter for ten" as he invited the university sector to lead a public debate about "how we maintain academic freedom whilst ensuring that extremists can never stifle debate or impose their views", which the Prime Minister had asked Universities Secretary John Denham and himself to begin.

The lecture took place on Tuesday 27th November at 6.30pm, kindly hosted by the Institute of Education in London

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