Heather McKee is Convener of Student Academics for Academic Freedom (SAFAF). She is completing an MSc in Psychology at the University of Glasgow. Heather set up Student Academics for Academic Freedom, which is part of Academics for Academic Freedom (AFAF), in May 2024. It brings together students who feel that free speech and academic freedom are dying out in UK universities to push back. AFAF and SAFAF believe in free speech for all, no ifs or buts. Please consider signing AFAF’s Statement of Academic Freedom.
Diane and Heather met at the AFAF Annual Conference in November 2024, where Diane gave a short, invited talk about her academic mobbing and cancellation, and Heather served on a student panel.
In this discussion, they explored the causes and effects of limiting students’ free speech and unrestricted exploration of ideas for students in universities throughout the UK and Ireland. Students who question or oppose current trends such as Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) and the decolonisation (destruction) of the curriculum do not feel safe speaking up on campus for fear of jeopardising their education and their future.
Connie Shaw’s suspension from student radio at the University of Leeds following her interview with a gender ‘detransitioner’ exemplify students’ valid concerns. Along with Heather, Connie is also a member of SAFAF who spoke at the AFAF Annual Conference. Related to Connie’s gender-critical views, Diane and Heather discussed the regressive nature of transgender ideology and how it has pushed back the hard-won advancement of women’s progression in higher education; Diane recalled her academic heroine’s poignant speech about this fight.
AFAF published an open letter to Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson asking the Labour government to implement the remaining provisions of the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act (HEFOSA), which were due to come into force on 1 August 2024. Phillipson halted HEFOSA’s implementation, although it had already received royal assent under the Tory government. Due to pushback from groups such as AFAF and the Free Speech Union, Phillipson has recently revived the Act, but she has added limitations, such as removing the tort element from academics and students who may wish to complain about their right to free speech being stifled by their university.
Update: UK Column recorded this interview in December 2024. On 14 January 2025, Diane resigned from her academic position as a full professor after formal grievances, disciplinary investigations, ‘performance improvement’ plans, forced mediation, and more were lodged against her over the past two years for her ideological and professional views. Diane is now fully dedicated to exposing institutional corruption as a permanent member of the UK Column Team.
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