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The volume of legislation governing hate crimes, public order and equality of race and gender prompted Les Ebdon, Luton University's vice-chancellor, to note politely this week that the Government has been "very busy in the past seven years" adding to the statute book.

Professor Ebdon's remark came as Universities UK published its new guidance on campus extremism and alongside a sharp exchange between Bill Rammell, the Higher Education Minister, and Drummond Bone, the UUK president, about the Terrorism Bill and its threat to academic freedom.

"Yes, we've been busy doing what the public want," Mr Rammell said pointedly as Professor Bone sat in stony silence.