UNIVERSITIES should “take note” of the investigation into the University of Sussex after an academic was forced to quit over a transgender rights row, MPs have been told.

Speaking at Commons education questions, Universities Minister Michelle Donelan said that the government was prioritising the right to free speech through introducing new legislation on the issue.

She said that institutions should “take note” over an investigation by the Office for Students into the University of Sussex.

In November 2021, the Office for Students launched an investigation into whether Sussex had met its “obligations on academic freedom and freedom of speech” after Kathleen Stock, a professor of philosophy, was targeted by activists over her views on gender identity.

Ms Donelan said: “This is a government that is committed to ensuring free speech on our campuses which is exactly why we are honouring our manifesto commitment and bringing to the House free speech legislation.

“I would like to point out that the University of Sussex is already being investigated by the Office for Students and other universities should take note of this.”

Prof Stock faced death threats and accusations of transphobia and announced she would be leaving the University of Sussex in October last year after a “horrible time”.

Posters calling for her to be sacked had also been put up around the campus.

The university has "unequivocally" defended Prof Stock and her "right to exercise her academic freedom and lawful freedom of speech".

Prof Stock has now accepted a role at a new university in America.

Ms Donelan's comments come after the Stoke-on-Trent MP Jonathan Gullis raised concerns of the "wokerati" after formal complaints were made about a lecturer at Staffordshire University.

Criminology professor James Treadwell said on social media: “Over half of female prisoners have experienced sexual violence and abuse”.

“Many have been damaged by men time and again. I cannot see any case for now why we should do anything but #KeepPrisonsSingleSex,” he added.

Mr Gullis called on the minister to share her “despair at this tiny extreme minority who wish to silence everyone’s opinion they disagree with”.

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