The Good Law Project says that when she was Education Secretary, Labour's Bridgit Phillipson allowed for hate groups to gain a foothold on student courses and in academic discourse because of her opposition to trans rights. But she has also opened a box of dark forces in that racism, misogyny and any other type of hatred are now being actively encouraged on campus by the far right. That's the assessment of the Good Law Project, who in a press release, go on to explain:

"Over 3,000 people have written to the education secretary telling her to protect student and academics from far right hate. ust weeks after Professor Jason Arday was hounded to his death, Reform UK’s branch in Oxford has invited the racist academic who led the campaign, Nathan Cofnas, to speak at Oriel College.

The intention is to bait Black people – to remind them there has been no accountability for the death of Professor Arday and, by extension, that their own careers and lives are at risk.

It’s not possible to assert with certainty that the law obliges Oriel to let Cofnas speak. What can be said with certainty is that pro-hate speech legislation enacted by the Tories, and embraced by Labour minister Bridget Phillipson, made it easier for racists, misogynists and other bigots, funded by far-right billionaires, to use universities to spread their messages of hate.

Phillipson embraced that legislation, we believe, because of her opposition to trans rights. But it also opened the door to people who want to stoke fear and spread division.

We need action now. 

To sign the petition, visit the Good Law Project at https://goodlawproject.org/