Universities legal obligation new report by David Renton

[LK1972]

David Renton, former chamber colleague and secret recorder of Allison Bailey, has just published a report called 'Universities Legal obligations in the context Trans inclusion, Trans equality and 'Gender Critical' activities on campus'. I haven't had a chance to read it or look at GC legal twitter for comments, but thought others might be interested:

academicfreedomuk.files.wordpress.com/2022/11/universities-legal-obligations-in-context-of-trans-inclusion-and-gc-activities.pdf

Akua Reindorf has commented on this report here: twitter.com/akuareindorf/status/1600614572943089670?t=J2vKSUpy70IxiWj2Jesqkg&s=19

Amused at the way Akua introduces her thread in a very polite and friendly way, and then proceeds to eviscerate Renton's document. How on earth do people such as Renton, with such a poor understanding of the law, become barristers?

Thanks @ItsAllGoingToBeFine, that's an excellent thread, well spotted!

Thank you for including this Fine. And to OP for posting original report.
IANAL, but find this particular issue fascinating-confusing (there should be a word for this- that's better than 'mindf*') I regularly debate this issue with DH who has a uni background- and so being able to read Reindorf's clarifications and corrections at the same time as the report is really helpful.
Great timing too, as I have just listened to Jo Phoenix interviewed on the university free speech issue on the LGB Alliance Wales podcast that someone posted earlier today:

open.spotify.com/episode/6Ew6AxwT32cKAlh5J31Wh2

Very good. At the end, Jo offers a lovely bit of optimistic spin on all this- as a 'healing crisis'; imagining that in a few years down the line, this crisis will actually have served a need to strengthen our appreciation of the value of, and our commitment to, universities; as places of knowledge (more than politics), and free speech/democracy.
She strikes me as someone who has come through hell, bringing back wisdom rather than bitterness.
Highly recommend it.

nitter.pussthecat.org/JoPhoenix1/status/1600797188380323840#m

Great response

Wow! She is superb!

Go Akua Reindorf and Jo Phoenix! 🏆

2nd para of the Wordpress intro: they can't spell independent. This does NOT bode well for a report that's allegedly a joint venture between barristers and a university, FFS.

Why would the university put its name to this? And why would garden court do this? Didn't they get enough embarrassment from all their peers seeing their terrible performance in the AB case?

The problem is that people will see this and assume it is correct

+1
Akua's response is quietly devastating. I wonder if RMW will chip in with their thoughts?

Akua and Jo's Twitter threads both archived now:

archive.ph/CPmE6

archive.ph/xhy4b

I suspect people are dazzled by the Eton education, Oxford, and the daring SWP connection which must feel dangerous and thrilling to those who don't recognise that privilege is a fantastic and pretty much impenetrable shield. And probably the reason he had no minim or iota of empathy for Allison Bailey whose life experience is so very different to his own.

IADNAL. I'm reading Renton, Murray, and Jones' article as a dangerously misinformed "how to discriminate against gender-critical feminists" guide that will get any university foolish enough to follow it into deep, deep trouble. Am I wrong?

Ben Goldacre used to recommend a Feynman Chaser after reading pseudoscience or badly designed studies.

In the same spirit, as an aid to recovering from the Renton Report, I offer a Ben Cooper webinar: Belief and Manifestation of Belief in a Social Media World (available as playback by scrolling down).

An analysis of recent case law looking at manifestation of beliefs about sex and gender including:
Page v NHS trust Development Authority (2021) ICR 941
Forstater v CGD Europe Ltd (2022) ICR 525
Bailey v (1) Stonewall Equality Ltd, (2) Garden Court Chambers Ltd (2022) ET/2202172/2020
Higgs v Farmor’s School (2022) EAT 101
Mackereth v Department for Work and Pensions and anor
Lessons for dealing with manifestations of beliefs about sex and gender both in and out of the workplace
Q&A

www.elaweb.org.uk/training-and-events/1329

I can't comment on whether the support wren makes an appearance.

Jo Phoenix:

Oh, that's a marvelously polite way of saying "You can't spell, you're rather dim and you're a dishonest demagogue. Piss off."

Sorry for the C&P and formatting, bloody phone.