Fury as woke uni college students ban Reform MP from debate over ‘racism’ | Politics | News | EUROtoday

Reform and Conservative politicians have erupted with fury after a Reform UK MP was banned from attending a debate at Bangor University by woke college students. In an announcement yesterday, the snowflake college students on the Welsh college’s debating and political society mentioned they’d obtained a request from MP Sarah Pochin and Reform activist Jack Anderton to attend a debate and participate in a query and reply session.

The pupil society mentioned: “In line with our values, this request was refused. We stand by this decision as a committee. We have zero tolerance for any form of racism, transphobia, or homophobia displayed by the members of Reform UK. Their approach to the lives of others is antithetical to the values of welcoming and fair debate that our society has upheld for 177 years.”

“We are proud to be the first of the debating unions to take a stand against Reform UK. We strongly implore our fellow societies to join us in keeping hate out of our universities.”

The information of the ‘ban’ sparked quick fury throughout the political spectrum, with Reform’s head of coverage Zia Yusuf stating that Bangor University obtained £30 million in state funding a yr, together with from Reform-voting taxpayers.

He blasted: “I am sure they won’t mind losing every penny of that state funding under a Reform government.

“After all, they would not desire a racist’s cash would they?”

Richard Tice, the party’s deputy leader, agreed with Mr Yusuf, saying British taxpayers “shouldn’t must fund” a university that does not believe in free speech.

They were backed by top Tory frontbencher Andrew Griffith, who quipped: “Bangor debates should be as tedious as eternity in the event that they solely embody these with whom they already agree.

“A useful ‘snowflake alert’ though for employers to not hire Bangor graduates.”

James Orr, a senior advisor to Nigel Farage, argued that the ban is an overt breach of the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act 2023, a bit of Tory laws implementing free speech at universities.

However, the powers launched by the act have been halted by the Labour authorities as certainly one of their first acts in July 2024, with Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson saying she was contemplating repealing it on the grounds that it imposes too heavy a burden on universities.

Ms Phillipson insisted that the federal government stays “completely dedicated” to freedom of speech and educational freedom.

Bangor University was approached for remark.