University of Sussex issued with £585,000 fine for ‘breach of free speech responsibilities’

The Office for Students (OfS) have issued a £585,000 fine to the University of Sussex, following a three-year investigation into the case of former Sussex Professor Kathleen Stock.  

Stock was the subject of student protest movement ‘Stock Out’ following her publication of her book Material Girls: Why Reality Matters For Feminism, described on Amazon.com as a “critique of the influential theory that we all have an inner feeling known as a gender identity”.  

The protestors campaigned for her termination, citing their opposition to her views and position as a trustee of LGB Alliance.

Stock’s views were described by PinkNews as “trans-exclusionary”, while she maintained they were “sex-realist”. 

Dr Arif Ahmed, OfS director for freedom of speech and academic freedom, said staff feared disciplinary action and had to “self-censor”

The university’s Trans and Non-Binary Equality Policy Statement was scrutinised by the OfS, with Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson suggesting the policies had “muzzled” academics. 

The policy states that course material should “positively represent trans people and trans lives” and asserts “transphobic propaganda [and] abuse” will not be tolerated.  

Dr Arif Ahmed, OfS director for freedom of speech and academic freedom, said staff feared disciplinary action and had to “self-censor”. 

Stock resigned in 2021 and was subsequently awarded an OBE for services to education. 

Sussex University’s Vice Chancellor Sasha Roseneil suggested the decision left universities “powerless to prevent abusive, bullying and harassing speech”

The OfS’s investigation concluded they’d “seen no evidence [that her speech] was unlawful”.  

However, Sussex University’s Vice Chancellor Sasha Roseneil suggested the decision left universities “powerless to prevent abusive, bullying and harassing speech” with “dire” implications for higher education.  

The University of Sussex plans to challenge the fine, with Roseneil labelling the process a “so-called investigation”, that was “flawed and politically motivated” with “egregious and concocted” findings that are “perpetuating the culture wars”.  

Others have praised the investigation’s findings. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch declared the result a “huge win for Kathleen Stock who was harassed for stating the obvious truth that biological sex is real”. 

Bridget Phillipson stated: “If you go to university, you must be prepared to have your views challenged, hear contrary opinions and be exposed to uncomfortable truths”.  

The Higher Education Freedom of Speech Act was passed under the Conservative government in 2023. It was paused last July “over fears it could protect people using hate speech”. Plans to reintroduce the legislation were confirmed in January, which included giving the OfS more power to fine or sanction higher education institutions and student unions.