We have an exclusive report on how No 10 has rowed back on a free speech law designed to stop university cancel culture – and the best analysis after the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, above, appeared to seek to upstage the Prince and Princess of Wales.
Bill to protect speakers is watered down by ministers
After a string of rows over the “cancellation” of academics and students over their views, a new free speech law was designed to protect universities. But The Telegraph can disclose that it has been watered down, with the Government making concessions to institutions over new powers it had drawn up to enable controversial speakers to sue. It has tabled amendments that would require complainants to seek compensation in the courts only as a last resort, after first pursuing claims through their university and the higher education regulator. Education editor Louisa Clarence-Smith reports how some in the party are furious at the perceived weakening of support for free speech.
Inside story of how royal aide embarrassed palace
Rishi Sunak has said racism must be “confronted” wherever it occurs, as the fallout from the royal race row threatened to overshadow the second day of the Prince and Princess of Wales’s trip to the US. The Prime Minister declined to comment specifically on the incident, in which Lady Susan Hussey, the late Queen’s longest-serving Lady-in-Waiting, resigned after a black, British-born domestic violence campaigner alleged the 83-year-old had persistently asked her where she was “really” from during a palace reception. But he said the job of tackling racism was “never done”, adding: “And that’s why whenever we see it we must confront it.” Royal editor Hannah Furness has the inside story of how the late Queen’s trusted friend embarrassed the palace. And Allison Pearson argues that Lady Susan “does not deserve all this vitriol”.
The row emerged as the Prince and Princess of Wales embarked on their first overseas trip in their new roles. In a further blow to their attempts to keep focus on the Earthshot Prize, the Prince’s environmental awards, a trailer was released for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s much-anticipated Netflix documentary. The series promises a “never-before-seen look” at the couple’s private lives that will explain why they left the Royal family. These are the five key things we learnt from the one-minute trailer. And, in her analysis, associate editor Camilla Tominey describes a love story motivated by revenge.
England star berates father for sartorial own goal
He may be worth millions and at the peak of his career, but Jack Grealish has shown that even footballers playing in the World Cup are not immune to being embarrassed by their parents. The 27-year-old spoke of his dismay at his father’s decision to wear a “lucky” Union flag waistcoat and bow-tie while watching England in Qatar. Now, as England gears up for Sunday’s last-16 game against Senegal, Grealish has made his thoughts clear.
Also in the news this morning
Politics | Labour held on to the city of Chester early today in a by-election in which the Conservatives recorded a historically low vote share. Samantha Dixon, the new MP for the northwest city, more than tripled the party’s lead over the Tories from 11.3pc to 38.8pc. Reporting from the count, Dominic Penna says the first electoral test of his premiership is a blow to Rishi Sunak. The fallout is in the Telegraph’s live blog.
Joe Biden | ‘I’ll sit down with Putin if he pulls out of Ukraine’
Asked if a Russian withdrawal from Crimea should be a condition for negotiations, Mr Biden said: “There’s one way for this war to end – the rational way. Putin to pull out of Ukraine, number one. But it appears he’s not going to do that. He’s paying a very high price for failing to do it.”
Kanye West | ‘Hitler did good things’, says disgraced rapper Kanye West said there “were good things about Hitler” as he appeared on alt-right conspiracy theorist Alex Jones’s InfoWars show on Thursday.The disgraced rapper wore a full black face mask as he said the Nazi leader deserved some praise, in the latest in a long line of disturbing and hateful anti-semitic comments.
Workers dismantle a shelter outside a neighbourhood in Beijing. Credit: Bloomberg
Comment and analysis
Fraser Nelson | We are running out of time to stop censorship
When Rishi Sunak stood for leader of the Conservative Party, one of his pledges was to defend free speech. It certainly was in peril: Nadine Dorries was planning a Bill that would give her, as culture secretary, powers to censor anything deemed “legal, but harmful”. This dangerously nebulous phrase could mean anything: she offered, as an example, a Jimmy Carr joke. Social media firms would be instructed to let their censorship algorithms rip, and pay huge fines if anything slipped through. Britain would end up with one of the most draconian regimes in the free world.
Jade McGlynn | Vladimir Putin is now caught in a death spiral
Vladimir Putin’s power is not at the mercy of the polls – and yet he pays them a lot of attention. So much so that he has his own private pollsters in the Federal Protective Service, who report the closed results directly to him.
Alan Cochrane | Cheery-bye, Blackford … don’t hasty back Nicola Sturgeon’s authority in her party has all but vanished with the demise of Ian Blackford, as SNP leader in the House of Commons. His decision to stand down may be a humiliation for this self-styled “humble crofter” – who’s actually a well-heeled former banker – but it is also a killer blow for Scotland’s First Minister.
Business briefing: Chinese ‘super embassy’ bid rejected
A Chinese bid for a “super embassy” on the site of the old Royal Mint near Tower Bridge has been blocked amid fierce opposition and a growing political rift between Westminster and Beijing. Tower Hamlets council unanimously voted to reject planning permission for the multi-million-pound development in central London, despite advisers recommending it go ahead. Meanwhile, Royal Mail has accused striking staff of assault and intimidation against workers crossing the picket line.
Here is a selection of articles we think you’ll be interested in today.
A joint effort of several authors who do find that nobody can keep standing at the side and that “Everyone" must care about what is going on in today’s world.
We are a bunch of people who do not mind that somebody has a totally different idea but is willing to share the ideas with others and to be Active and willing to let others understand how "today’s decisions will influence the future”. Therefore we would love to see many others to "Act today".
View more posts
.png){kind=small}
Some View on the World 