NEARLY half of the public oppose plans allowing people to sue universities for no-platforming if it meant extremists and Holocaust deniers were allowed to speak on campuses, a survey suggests.

Campaign group Hope not Hate has warned that under forthcoming freedom of speech laws, far-right extremists could be allowed to claim compensation if they are not given a platform at universities.

The anti-racism organisation is calling on the government to amend its proposed legislation to ensure “harmful, hateful liars” are not protected by its measures to tackle no-platforming on campuses.

In May, the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Bill was introduced in Parliament to protect the rights of visiting speakers – even while ministers seek to force universities to suppress Palestine solidarity activity through imposing the contentious IHRA definition of anti-semitism, which critics say conflates anti-Jewish hatred with criticism of the Israeli state.

If passed, the Bill would require registered universities and colleges in England to promote and defend freedom of speech and academic freedom.

The Office for Students would have the power to impose fines on institutions if they breached this condition and academics, students or visiting speakers would be able to seek compensation.

In the survey of 1,500 people across Britain, more than one in four people said they were against the plans.

And 48 per cent would not support the proposals if it meant racists, extremists, Islamophobes and Holocaust deniers were allowed to sue universities if refused a platform.

Hope not Hate head researcher Joe Mulhall said: “The government’s Bill isn’t about free speech, it is a political salvo in its ongoing culture war.

“The result of this lazy opportunism is that the government’s legislative attempts to score points could inadvertently result in Holocaust deniers and far-right extremists getting protections they don’t have now.

“The government — in seeking positive headlines — is intervening to tell universities that it must host people with harmful, ill-informed opinions, or who promote outright lies like Holocaust denial and race science.

“At worst, this risks legitimising topics that objectively are not legitimate. Just debating the Holocaust makes it a debate — when it simply is not.”

A Department for Education spokesman denied that the Bill will protect individuals who seek to harass others or spread extremist views.