THE recently appointed 'free speech tsar' for higher education in England says he will strongly defend the rights of students, academics and visiting speakers.

In an interview with the BBC, Professor Arif Ahmed, who grew up in Taunton, said there is a "serious cause for concern" over the stifling of free speech at universities.

"On both sides of any issue, we will be equally vigorous in defending the free speech rights of students, academics and visiting speakers," he said.

Prof Ahmed, who has pledged to defend all views, was appointed following a number of cases of "no-platforming" of speakers because of their views on certain issues.

He told the BBC that the Office for Students, which regulates the higher education system in England, was "completely politically neutral" when protecting free speech.

He added: "I think there may be areas where there is serious cause for concern - and I want to emphasise that this comes from all sides of the political spectrum."

Prof Ahmed's comments came after Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, speaking at the Conservative Party Conference, said: "A man is a man and a woman is a woman."

Asked whether such a view should be expressed on a university campus, Prof Ahmed said: "As long as a view can be legally expressed, such as that one, then yes, but so is the opposite."

He added: "There is no question whatever that we have any interest in the culture wars - we don't - or that we have any interest in defending any one political side - we absolutely don't.

"On both sides of any issue, we will be equally vigorous in defending the free speech rights of students, academics and visiting speakers."

In his role, Prof Ahmed will oversee a new complaints scheme for students, staff and visiting speakers, who could seek compensation if they suffer from a breach of a university's free speech obligations.

The County Gazette previously reported his determination to stand up for "all views" while promoting free speech at universities.

As a six-year-old at Bishop's Hull Primary School he had a reading age of 14 and won a scholarship to Queen's College when he was nine.

He graduated in maths from Oxford before doing an MA in philosophy at Sussex and gaining his PhD at Cambridge.

More recently he has worked as a senior lecturer and Fellow of Gonville and Caius since 2015.