Union launches legal challenge over college return

Lecturers’ union the UCU is preparing to open proceedings for a legal review of what it alleges was an unlawful decision by the UK government to overrule advice from its Sage advisory group in favour of online teaching at colleges and universities. Instead the education secretary authorised a return to campuses in September.

In the first step of the process the union has issued a pre-action letter to education secretary Gavin Williamson.

This states: “UCU contends that the government’s failure to direct and support universities and further education colleges to move to online teaching from September 2020 is unlawful and unfair. In particular, the decision (insofar as a decision was made as opposed to a failure to take action) not to follow the Sage advice provided to the government on 21 September 2020 is irrational, was taken without observing the principles of natural justice, and was taken without necessary consultation.”

https://www.ucu.org.uk/article/11084/UCU-issues-legal-challenge-over-Westminster-governments-decision-to-ignore-SAGE-advice?list=1676

https://www.ucu.org.uk/media/11185/UCU-Covid-19--SAGE-judicial-review/pdf/ucu_judicialreview_rthon-gavinwilliamson