Tory whip Chris Heaton-Harris has been accused of trying to undermine academic freedom by sending out the controversial Brexit letter to universities
Tories have leapt to the defence of an MP who asked universities for the names of professors teaching about Brexit.
Tory MP James Duddridge told MailOnline the row was ‘something about nothing’ and insisted Conservative whip Chris Heaton-Harris was making a legitimate query.
The row grew today BBC’s world affairs editor John Simpson faced criticism after he cited the missive as a reason why the UK didn’t ‘feel like my country now’.
MPs said Simpson’s intervention was ‘disproportionate’ and he was displaying a lack of ‘balance’.
The spat erupted after Mr Heaton-Harris sent a letter to every university at the start of this month, asking for the names of lecturers teaching about Brexit as well as ‘a copy of the syllabus and links to the online lectures’.
Universities accused the Leave-supporting MP of taking ‘the first step to the thought police’ and branded the move a ‘sinister’ attempt to clamp down on free speech.
Jo Johnson, the universities minister, said this morning that while Mr Heaton-Harris had been pursuing an ‘academic inquiry’ with a view to writing a book on attitudes towards Europe, he had left himself open to misinterpretation.
‘I think a letter that could have been misinterpreted should probably not have been sent in this way,’ he told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.
But other senior Tories have leapt to Mr Heaton-Harris’s defence.
Tory MP James Duddridge told MailOnline: ‘This row is something about nothing. It is an open letter asking for universities to say how they teach Brexit.
‘It is perfectly legitimate for an MP to ask, particularly as its a very new subject.’
Posting on Twitter last night, Simpson wrote: ‘MP wants details of anti-Brexit univ teachers. Decent folk deported on technicalities. Daily hate in press. Doesn’t feel like my country now.’
Amid a wave of criticism, he added this morning: ‘Don’t assume you know my views on Brexit or politics because you don’t. What upsets me is the current viciousness in British public life.’
But Mr Duddridge said Simpson’s intervention was ‘very odd’. ‘I don’t think he has read the letter from Chris Heaton-Harris. His comments in no way correspond to Chris’s letter.
‘He needs to sit down in a darkened room and relax.
‘Chris’s letter is balanced. John Simpson’s response is not.’
Another senior Tory told MailOnline the remarks from Simpson showed the ‘elite’ was finding it ‘difficult to deal with’ the fact that Brexit was now the ‘political mainstream’.
MPs said the intervention from Simpson (pictured) was ‘disproportionate’ and he was displaying a lack of ‘balance’
John Simpson gave a damning assessment of Mr Heaton-Harris’s letter on Twitter last night, before insisting this morning that it did not reflect his views on Brexit
Andrea Leadsom, the leader of the Commons and a fellow Brexiteer, said yesterday that he had every right to ask such questions.
She said it was a ‘very courteous and not at all threatening letter’, adding: ‘Universities are bastions of free speech so to be so horrified at somebody asking a simple question with no caveat or demands either implicit or explicit in it, it seems to me to be a bit odd that they should react in such a negative way.
‘He is not compelling anybody to do anything.
Commons Leader Andrea Leadsom is among the senior Tories who have defended Mr Heaton-Harris over the letter
‘He is asking a question as Member of Parliament and I personally don’t see anything sinister about asking that question.’
Tory MP Charlie Elphicke said the reaction had been ‘ludicrous’ and pointed out universities should be ‘out and proud about their teaching, rather than being so defensive’.
He told BBC Radio 4’s PM programme: ‘It’s typical of universities who tend to over-react to any kind of challenge or questioning and try and shut down debate.
‘What is wrong with saying: ‘who is teaching European affairs and what is on the syllabus?’.
‘I don’t see a dark and sinister undercurrent in that.’
Mr Heaton-Harris, MP for Daventry, wrote in his letter to universities: ‘I was wondering if you would be so kind as to supply me with the names of professors at your establishment who are involved in the teaching of European affairs, with particular reference to Brexit.
‘Furthermore, if I could be provided with a copy of the syllabus and links to the online lectures which relate to this area I would be much obliged.’
In response, the Chancellor of Oxford University, Lord Patten of Barnes – a former Conservative Party chairman – accused Mr Heaton-Harris of ‘idiotic Leninism’.
He said: ‘It is absolutely disgraceful… If he doesn’t know that universities are autonomous, that universities aren’t like Chinese re-education camps, then he doesn’t know very much about what it’s like to live in a free society.’
Professor David Green, vice-chancellor of Worcester University, branded it ‘sinister’ and ‘dangerous’, adding: ‘Here is the first step to the thought police, the political censor and newspeak, naturally justified as ‘the will of the British people’.’
The letter, which has been widely circulated online, asks for the name of who is teaching Brexit and links to the syllabus and online lectures relating to the topic
And Kevin Featherstone, head of the European Institute at the London School of Economics, told the Guardian: ‘The letter reflects a past of a McCarthyite nature. It smacks of asking: are you or have you ever been in favour of Remain? There is clearly an implied threat that universities will somehow be challenged for their bias.’
Mr Heaton-Harris attempted to clarify his intentions on Twitter, writing: ‘To be absolutely clear, I believe in free speech in our universities and in having an open and vigorous debate on Brexit.’
But Downing Street disowned his comments, with Theresa May’s spokesman stating: ‘This was sent in his capacity as an MP, not a government representative.
‘What the Prime Minister has always been very clear on is her respect for the freedom and independence of universities and the role they play in creating open and stimulating debate. Free speech is one of the foundations on which our universities are built and, of course, it should be protected.’
Mr Heaton-Harris was promoted to vice-chamberlain of Her Majesty’s household in the Whip’s Office after this summer’s election.
A former member of the European parliament, he is a strong Eurosceptic.
Chris Patten, chancellor of Oxford University, tore into the letter which he said is ‘absolutely disgraceful’ (file pic)