Sussex ruling shows why Office for Students has lost sector's trust

The union said the judgment raises serious questions about the role of the OfS and the way it has intervened in institutional decision-making on contested issues in higher education.

UCU general secretary Jo Grady said: 'This ruling is a rebuke to the politicians who have wielded the Office for Students as a political cudgel in campus culture wars. The regulator has lost the trust of the sector, and there now needs to be a complete rethink from government over how it will work to protect higher education. 

'The fine imposed on Sussex was never about free speech; it was about forcing views onto campus and enflaming culture wars. It acted as a form of censorship that pushed institutions to undermine their own trans inclusive policies and helped make universities a safe space for bigotry. 

'The sector is in crisis; tens of thousands of jobs are at risk, alongside thousands of courses, and staff are being forced to do more with less. It is more important than ever that the Department for Education reviews the whole system to support universities. The OfS should be repurposed to provide emergency funding that will protect student provision, stop institutions from going under, and help higher education lead the government's plan for national renewal.'