The Ministry of Defence has issued no guidance to members of the Defence Universities Alliance on how to handle campus protests over their membership or wider links with the defence sector, and has attached no conditions on protest management or reputational protection, according to answers given in Parliament.
Jeremy Corbyn, the Your Party member for Islington North, tabled two questions, asking what guidance is issued to universities as part of the alliance on handling campus protest opposing it or university links to the defence sector, and what conditions or expectations on campus protest management or reputational protection are attached to participating universities.
Luke Pollard, Minister for Defence Industry and Readiness, said on the first: “The Ministry of Defence has not issued guidance to Defence Universities Alliance (DUA) members on how to handle campus protests over their membership or any wider links with the defence sector.”
On the second he said: “The Ministry of Defence has not attached conditions or expectations on how Defence Universities Alliance (DUA) members manage campus protests. Through the signing of the DUA Charter, members have committed to supporting the growth of defence research and ensuring defence industry careers and skills are represented as part of a balanced portfolio of careers guidance, supporting improved collaboration between the sectors.
“The DUA protects freedom of speech as set out in the DUA Charter for all members.”
The Defence Universities Alliance was established to connect the department with universities on research, skills and careers. Membership is conferred by signing the DUA Charter, under which signatories commit to supporting the growth of defence research and to representing defence industry careers within careers guidance.
Universities carry statutory duties on freedom of speech under the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act 2023, which apply irrespective of their research partnerships.
Encampments and occupations over university links with defence companies have taken place at institutions across Britain since 2023, and a number of universities have reviewed their investment and research arrangements.
John McDonnell, the member for Hayes and Harlington, asked about the alliance earlier this month and established that membership carries no departmental funding, which this publication reported at the time.
