Brexiteers feel they have to censor their words as 32% of academics hide their opinion – Express

Brexithas divided public opinion since the historic referendum four years ago but one expert has found 32 percent of Brexiteers in academia still hide their views. Political scientist Dr Remi Adekoya has called for the introduction of academic freedom directors in British universities. His department's report has argued academics with right-leaning or pro-Brexit views feel they have to censor what they teach, research and discuss.

Speaking to talkRADIO, Dr Adekoya said: "Both sides unfortunately discriminate when it comes to hiring, publication and promotion.

"Unfortunately since people with right-leaning views are in a very small minority in academia, they are disproportionately affected by this.

"There is a structure of discrimination if you are a right-leaning academic.

"A total of 32 percent who identify as right have hidden their views or neglected to mention their views for fear of what that might to their career and that is completely wrong.

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"I'm completely against that. Personally, I am a left-leaning academic.

"I think it's completely wrong that anybody around me should worry about what they say."

His comments come as it emerged the European Union is willing to compromise to rescue troubled Brexit talks by softening its demand that Britain heed EU rules on state aid in the future,.

Diplomatic sources told ReutersBrussels could go for a compromise entailing a dispute-settling mechanism on any state aid granted by the UK to its companies in the future, rather than obliging London to follow the bloc's own rules from the outset.

Provisions to ensure fair competition pose the biggest stumbling block in the negotiations aimed at sealing a new trade accord from 2021 following Britain's exit from the EU in January after 46 years of membership.

The 27 EU countries have long demanded so-called "level playing field" guarantees from Britain if it wants to continue selling goods freely in the bloc's lucrative single market of 450 million people - after Britain's standstill transition period following Brexit expires at the end of this year.

Without an agreement, trade and financial ties between the world's fifth largest economy and its biggest trading bloc would collapse overnight, likely spreading havoc among markets, businesses and people.

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But Prime Minister Boris Johnson's Government has refused to be bound by EU state aid rules, environmental standards or labour laws, saying the essence of Brexit was to let Britain decide alone on its own regulations.

An EU diplomat said: "The room for compromise lies in something that will let the UK decide on its own since 'regaining sovereignty' is such a big Brexit thing.

"We would reserve the right to decide on any consequences vis--vis access to the single market for UK companies as a result."

Another diplomatic source said such a dispute resolution mechanism could be a way to help clinch an agreement.

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Brexiteers feel they have to censor their words as 32% of academics hide their opinion - Express