Legal challenge launched

The lecturers’ UCU union has launched a legal challenge against the Westminster government over its decision to ignore advice from its Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) and allow students to return to campuses in September for in-person teaching. The union believes the decision was unlawful. SAGE told the government in September that unless teaching at colleges and universities moved online outbreaks were very likely.

The UCU says the legal action is a significant escalation of the union’s campaign to protect the health and safety of staff and students and hopes it will help prevent a third Covid wave in January. The union called for teaching at English universities to be moved online immediately to allow students to return home as soon as possible. The government must not be allowed to repeat this disaster next term, it said.

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