University of Sussex Overturns £585,000 Free Speech Fine

University of Sussex wins court challenge to overturn £585,000 freedom of speech fine

A record fine had been issued by the Office for Students over the university's trans and non-binary inclusion policy.

University of Sussex wins High Court battle on free speech

Judge overturns £585,000 fine as it finds regulator’s decision tainted by bias

Sussex University overturns £585,000 fine as high court rejects free speech breach claim

Ruling is blow to Office for Students after it issued fine for handling of protests over professor’s trans rights views Sussex University has overturned a £585,000 fine by England’s higher education watchdog after the high court rejected claims the university had breached free speech regulations involving its former professor Kathleen Stock. The ruling is a damaging blow to the credibility and management of the Office for Students, after the court rejected the regulator’s lengthy investigatio...

By Richard Adams Education editor

University wins High Court challenge over record £585,000 freedom of speech fine

The University of Sussex took legal action against the Office for Students (OfS) last year over the watchdog’s decision in March 2025

By Callum Parke and Jasmine Norden