I agree that academics should be free under the law to speak out in their areas of expertise in the same way that employment law protects those who whistleblow on issues at work. There is a fundamental freedom to speak out here, and would that more people would use it.
At the same time, Roger Kline is absolutely right to underline that such a freedom cannot extend to people weighing in with racist, sexist, homophobic and other prejudicial thoughts with a view to impacting in a negative sense on the freedom of others.
There should be a right to be offensive but it must be used responsibly.
Keith Flett
London