FREE speech rules at universities must balance the need to keep students "safe from harm" against "outwardly racist rhetoric or fascist ideology," the National Union of Students (NUS) warned yesterday.

NUS vice president for higher education Amatey Doku said guidance on the issue, which centres around the rise of "no-platforming" and "safe spaces," is confusing, with universities and student unions forced to "juggle multiple, often conflicting" legal duties.

As she spoke, Universities Minister Sam Gyimah held a summit on free speech, warning that institutions must stamp out "institutional hostility" to views that are unfashionable or unpopular.