Fallen idols are something of a trend in Bristol at the moment. But as controversy rages over the Colston statue toppling, another is brewing at the local university. For staff there are refusing to reveal the costs and identity of the top QC who led the investigation into the long-running David Miller saga.
The controversial academic was sacked by the University of Bristol last October, having been accused by the All-Party Parliamentary Group Against Anti-Semitism of ‘inciting hatred against Jewish students’ for his comments about Israel, Zionism and the student Jewish Society.
The university launched the QC-led investigation into Professor Miller’s conduct in March 2021, with the lawyer producing an independent report which concluded that Miller’s comments did not constitute unlawful speech. Bristol, however, has blocked Steerpike’s Freedom of Information request on the identity of the QC and the cost of their investigation on the grounds of personal data and commercial interests.
It claimed that releasing this figure ‘would likely prejudice both the commercial interests of the university and the QC’ as ‘the university’s ability to negotiate favourable terms in the future would be hampered if the requested information entered the public domain.
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