Freedom of Speech

Freedom of speech

At Manchester Met, we are committed to supporting freedom of speech. We encourage debate that allows different views and ideas to be discussed and challenged and we aim to provide a supportive and inclusive environment to promote this.

We also have a duty to ensure that freedom of expression does not break the law or breach the legal rights of others. There are specific pieces of legislation, that protect freedom of speech as well as the rights of those who consider themselves directly or indirectly affected by the speech or actions of others (see links at the bottom of this page).

Agreeing to Disagree

Promoting freedom of speech requires an environment where all participants feel valued, heard, and protected from harm. This inclusive approach ensures that freedom of expression does not come at the cost of marginalised voices or lead to a hostile learning environment. By developing and using dialogue skills, the whole university community can create a culture of respectful disagreement, where diverse viewpoints are not only tolerated but actively sought out and engaged with critically.

Balancing the promotion of free speech with creating safe and inclusive learning environments can be challenging. It requires conversations around sensitive topics like politics, religion, and identity, addressing power imbalances to ensure that all voices, especially those from marginalised groups, are heard, and managing emotional responses and potential conflicts during discussions.

It also presents opportunities to build resilience and capacity to interact with various viewpoints, critical thinking skills, empathy, and understanding across diverse cultural and ideological backgrounds.

Universities have a role to help students address the challenges of these issues and embrace the opportunities they present, so that they have the necessary skills for success at University and beyond.

Inviting external speakers

If you are planning an event that involves external speakers or participants, or you will be inviting members of the public to attend, then you need to make sure that you follow the University’s Code of Practice on Freedom of Speech. The Code of Practice applies to University affiliated events that take place:

on campus
off campus
online

The Code of Practice includes an online form to request the approval of external speakers at events. You can complete this form if you are planning an event, but you will need to ask a member of staff to authorise it.

The Students’ Union (SU) also has its own process for SU societies to request external guests.

Please contact [email protected] with any queries about the process.

The Right to Protest

The right to protest is protected under the European Convention of Human Rights. However, there are processes and procedures all protesters should be aware of before taking part in a protest to ensure that it is peaceful and therefore lawful.

Here, Academic Registrar, Joe Rennie, and Students Union President, Leila Enoki, discuss how the University and the Students Union support student understanding of safe and democratic student protest as key to academic freedom, student academic freedom – and a free society.

Guidance for students who want to protest at Manchester Metropolitan University

At Manchester Met, we are committed to supporting freedom of speech. We encourage debate that allows different views and ideas to be discussed and challenged and we aim to provide a supportive and inclusive environment to promote this.

Our legal duty to promote freedom of speech within the law may at times include allowing individuals or groups to host events or speakers that others do not agree with or wish to demonstrate against.

The University also has a responsibility to maintain a safe, effective, and welcoming environment for all our students, staff and visitors. We have a clear student code of conduct that sets out behavioural expectations. Where students engage in misconduct, as outlined in our regulations, they become subject to disciplinary action.

The guidance below outlines some dos and don’ts around organising student protests on campus. The University respects and supports individuals’ rights to engage in peaceful, lawful protests. Following the guidance will help to ensure that student protests can be best supported to be delivered safely for all members of the University community and the general public, and reduce the likelihood of protesters breaching University regulations and becoming subject to disciplinary action.

When organising a protest at Manchester Metropolitan University, do:
Give at least 7 days’ notice of the protest to our University Campus Safety and Security team. Download the risk assessment form for completion;
If the protest is being led by a Students’ Union society, advise the SU of the intention to protest so that they can provide advice and guidance if required;
Follow any safety, security, and location advice given to you by the University and Students’ Union staff and representatives;
Clearly communicate information about the protest to the participants, including any University safety guidance;
Be aware that by taking part in a protest on campus, others may share your image in the media, or via social media. This could include anything you share to your personal media accounts that are not set to ‘private’.
When communicating with your fellow protesters at Manchester Metropolitan University, do:
Advise them to follow any safety, security, and location advice given by the University and Students’ Union staff and representatives;
Clearly communicate information about the protest to the participants, including any University safety guidance;
Advise them that by taking part in a protest on campus, others may share their image in the media, or via social media. This could include anything they share to their personal media accounts that are not set to ‘private’;
Advise them not to engage in any of the actions in the “don’t” list below.
When organising or taking part in a protest at Manchester Metropolitan University, don’t:
Undertake any activities that break the law;
Use intimidating, abusive or threatening behaviour towards others;
Use intimidating, abusive or threatening language via communications, placards, banners, posters or other means;
If you are protesting about an event on campus, you must not prevent speakers from talking, people from attending, or do anything that is designed to prevent the event taking place;
Prevent any teaching or University business from taking place. Not all students or staff will want to be a part of the demonstrations and you must respect their right to study and work unaffected;
Enter university buildings as part of the protest;
Intentionally or carelessly damage any University or other property as part of your protest;
Attach posters or banners to University property without permission. If you are planning on circulating flyers, the University reserves the right to move them or take them down if they contain offensive language, hate speech or constitute harassment of a particular person or group of people because of their characteristics or beliefs;
Leave demonstration banners, objects or other effects – any unattended items will be removed.
Procedure for advising of the intention to protest
Contact the University’s security team [email protected] at least 7 days in advance.
Submit the risk assessment to [email protected] at least 7 days in advance.
If an organisation is associated with the Students’ Union, also send your risk assessment to them.
The University will normally reply within 2 working days to acknowledge receipt. They will also provide information about safety protocols and any other general guidance depending on the nature of the information provided by the protest organiser.

Freedom of Speech

About the code