Government demanded to scrap “absurd” rule banning expert speakers

The Liberal Democrats have written to the Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden calling on him to scrap the government rule that led to nerve agent expert, Dan Kaszeta being banned from speaking at a Ministry of Defence conference on chemical weapons.

It comes weeks after the government’s Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Bill received Royal Assent, and numerous Conservative MPs addressed numerous conferences claiming that free speech is under attack.

Previously, Jacob Rees-Mogg introduced rules as a Minister that meant the government would vet the social media accounts of guest speakers at their events, including going back five years, to see if they had criticised government policy.

In the letter Liberal Democrat Cabinet Office Spokesperson Christine Jardine called on the government to respect the right of free speech from guest speakers and scrap the rules.

Liberal Democrat Cabinet Office spokesperson Christine Jardine MP said:

“It is incredibly hypocritical for a government which claims to be so keen to maintain free speech to actively restrict experts speaking.

“The idea that speakers are being uninvited from speaking at government-organised conferences or giving talks to civil servants because they have criticised the government raises serious questions.

“This is a clear assault on free speech, which is unacceptable."