A Conservative MP has been accused of trying to restrain free debate after writing to universities to ask for the names of tutors teaching students about Brexit.

Professor Amelia Hadfield of Canterbury Christ Church University, a specialist in European studies, was responding to the revelation that government whip Chris Heaton-Harris had asked universities for details of lecturers and course content.

Professor Hadfield, director of the Centre for European Studies at CCCU, said his intervention had added to the intimidation already felt by some lecturers about what they could say.

“One of the key foundations for universities is a dedicated commitment to free speech and within the Brexit debate, [being able] to have an open lively and vibrant debate.

“We are not going to have that if we shut down debate and universities and professors feel in any way that what they are saying is limited or censored.”

She added that some teaching staff already felt under pressure.

“To be honest, I think we have had some lecturers who have already felt intimidated - it goes back a year to the referendum and then the election.

"Let’s not forget that universities and particularly lecturers who specialise in teaching international and European affairs were accused of being ‘remoaners’ and unpatriotic and not teaching objectively.”

Despite the government moving quickly to say the MP had acted on his own, she said the intervention of the MP would “ratchet up the tension” and that the debate was becoming too polarised.

“Kent is a frontline county and we have longer and deeper relations with the EU on a whole range of issues, from regional funding to exchanges.

"We have a responsibility to react clearly and objectively to threats to academic teaching.”

And the University of Kent Vice Chancellor wrote back to the MP inviting him down to visit, saying: "In the context of his enquiry, we did invite Mr Heaton-Harris to share his perspectives and insights on Brexit with students on our European politics modules. We await his reply."

Mr Heaton-Harris also asked vice-chancellors for a copy of each university’s syllabus and any online lectures on Brexit.

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