Christian Concern has welcomed the withdrawal of controversial guidelines from the vice-chancellors’ body – Universities UK – which endorsed gender segregation at campus events, after pressure by groups such as Muslim societies.
Andrea Williams, CEO of Christian Concern, supported criticism by the Prime Minister and Opposition spokesmen who condemned the UUK proposal, saying: “This was a prime example of public institutions being intimidated by extreme minority viewpoints and fearing to take sensible decisions in case they were branded politically incorrect.”
David Cameron urged the vice chancellors to take a “tough approach” and resist attempts to segregate men and women at university lectures or public meetings.
“I am delighted that the government acted quickly on this issue and welcome the statement by the Education Secretary, Michael Gove, who accused Universities UK of ‘pandering to extremism’ and branded the guidance as ‘a disgrace’.”
He said the guidance, which has also been branded not permissible by the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), was a "disgrace