A pro-free speech university Vice-Chancellor has been completely cleared of all wrongdoing after a four-month ordeal over claims made by his estranged wife—raising serious questions over the motives behind his dramatic suspension.
Professor James Tooley, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Buckingham, was forced out in October over what were described as “serious allegations”—but an independent inquiry has now ruled them baseless.
His supporters claim the university seized on the claims in a thinly veiled attempt to oust him for his anti-woke views.
FREE SPEECH CHAMPION TARGETED?
Prof Tooley, a staunch free speech advocate, has rattled the academic establishment by turning Buckingham into Britain’s only anti-woke university. Under his leadership, the university created a Margaret Thatcher Chair for the Constitution of Liberty and appointed Ayaan Hirsi Ali, a vocal critic of Islamist extremism, to the role.
This, it seems, was too much for some in the university’s increasingly corporatist governing body.
Then came the allegations. The so-called “serious accusations” turned out to be a joke—claims that he owned an unlicensed weapon (which was actually a child’s air pistol) and that he had a past relationship with a consenting adult woman.
Despite the flimsy nature of the claims, university bosses pounced, launching a four-month legal battle while Tooley was ejected from his grace-and-favour residence and humiliated in a public email to thousands of staff and students.
Now, an independent investigation led by top barrister Joseph O’Brien KC has completely exonerated Tooley.
University Council Chair Mark Qualter confirmed in a memo to staff:
“The report found that the serious allegations against the Vice-Chancellor were not substantiated. The report has been considered by council and the suspension of the vice-chancellor brought to an end.”
Yet the university has refused to publish the full 85-page report, adding to speculation that the case was never about justice, but about removing a leader who refused to bow to woke orthodoxy.
DID UNI LEADERS HAVE AN AGENDA?
Tooley’s allies say his ideological enemies saw an opportunity and took it. One senior academic told The Telegraph:
“They pounced on this as a means of damaging him and forcing him out because they don’t like him. They think he’s too libertarian, too Thatcherite, too right-wing.”
A group of senior academics even wrote a legal letter demanding his reinstatement, arguing that due process had been ignored.
Mark Qualter, the man who led Tooley’s suspension, has come under fire for overstepping his authority, with critics pointing out that he chaired both the University Council and the very committee that handled the case—raising serious conflict of interest concerns.
TIME FOR RESIGNATIONS?
With Tooley now back at his desk, the question remains: will those who drove this farcical suspension be held accountable? Tooley’s exoneration is a huge win for free speech, but with Buckingham’s leadership under scrutiny, many are calling for heads to roll. Should Mark Qualter resign? Should the university council members who pushed for this “witch-hunt” step down?
One thing is clear: this battle for free speech at Britain’s universities isn’t over yet.
Read more about the case on The Telegraph.
