BNP invite to debate sparks concerns (From The Northern Echo)
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BNP invite to debate sparks concerns
11:03am Wednesday 3rd February 2010 in News
POLICE could be called in to maintain order at a student debate after anti-fascists vowed to stop two BNP politicians joining it.
Unite Against Fascism (UAF) said Durham Union Society’s decision to invite the BNP to a multiculturalism debate was disgraceful.
The group wants the meeting cancelled or the invitations withdrawn, and is planning demonstrations outside the Debating Chamber, on the Palace Green, Durham City.
Simon Assas, from UAF, said: “It defies belief. It is a huge error of judgement and they should think about their university’s reputation. It is outrageous.”
Inspector Paul Anderson said Durham Police would speak to event organisers before deciding whether officers were needed outside the debate or whether they would advise it be abandoned.
The Durham Union Society, one of the world’s oldest student debating societies, will discuss the motion: “This house believes in a multicultural Britain”.
For the proposal will be Kulveer Ranger, an advisor to Boris Johnson, and Conservative MP Edward Leigh.
Arguing against will be Andrew Brons, the British National Party MEP for Yorkshire and the Humber, and Chris Beverley, a BNP councillor in Leeds.
Mr Brons said: “If the UAF want to defeat us, why don’t they defeat us with reasoned argument? I look forward to the debate.”
Anna Birley, the president of Durham Union Society, said: “While personally I disagree with the views of the BNP, I respect everyone’s right to freedom of speech.
“As president, I am responsible for promoting open debate, which means inviting people with opposing points of view – the best way to expose them to public scrutiny.”
Professor Chris Higgins, the vice-chancellor of Durham University, said: “I, personally, abhor the views of the BNP which I consider inappropriate, shallow and offensive.
“However, because the university is a strong advocate of freedom of speech, we did not oppose the right of the Durham Union Society to invite BNP members as long as they spoke as part of an open debate in which their views could be challenged.”
The debate, open to society members only, will be held from 8.30pm on Friday, February 12.
Comments(12)
Evey
says...
2:23pm Wed 3 Feb 10
Nicholas_Till
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4:10pm Wed 3 Feb 10
Adam Walker
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5:25pm Wed 3 Feb 10
J.Moffatt
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5:43pm Wed 3 Feb 10
Frank Forte
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8:45pm Wed 3 Feb 10
Frank Forte
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8:46pm Wed 3 Feb 10
OckendonPaul
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10:27pm Wed 3 Feb 10
Well done to the university for having the debate that politicians only pretend to call for.
My opinion, for what it's worth, is that we should look at the big picture. We don't have a multi-cultural society at all. We are actually in a state of transition from a white majority culture to a white minority one. It scares the willies out of me.
Mark Walker
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11:09am Thu 4 Feb 10
Well done durham University.
darlo-rhino
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3:17pm Thu 4 Feb 10
Super steve
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4:19pm Thu 4 Feb 10
As it is the diseased creatures of the Trade Union movement discriminate against workers because of their political beliefs, that in itself should be a crime.
Mark Walker
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7:34pm Sun 7 Feb 10
The Durham Union Society had invited Yorkshire and North East Lincolnshire MEP Andrew Brons, and Leeds City Councillor Chris Beverley, to oppose the motion: “This house believes in a multicultural Britain” in the Debating Chamber on the Palace Green in Durham City.
But the Labour Party-funded UAF gang (above) vowed to stop the two British National Party politicians from taking part in the debate and after a series of threatening telephone calls to university staff, along with threats of a violent demonstration outside the venue, the Durham Union Society – one of the world’s oldest student debating societies – reluctantly pulled the plug on the event.
Not only was the news disappointing for Andrew Brons (left) and Chris Beverley, it was also a blow to Kulveer Ranger, an advisor to Boris Johnson, and the Conservative MP Edward Leigh who were due to propose the motion.
Anna Birley, the president of Durham Union Society, told the Northern Echo just two days ago:
“As president, I am responsible for promoting open debate, which means inviting people with opposing points of view.”
While Professor Chris Higgins, the vice-chancellor of Durham University, had backed the society’s stance:
“The university is a strong advocate of freedom of speech, we did not oppose the right of the Durham Union Society to invite British National Party representatives as long as they spoke as part of an open debate.”
But now the enemies of free speech have won the day and the students of Durham University have been denied the opportunity to listen to an important debate and challenge those taking part.
“Labour Party thugs might have won this battle but they are losing the war,” said a BNP spokesman when told of the cancellation.
“Students by their very nature have inquisitive minds and they won’t like the book-burners of the UAF dictating what they can and can not listen too.
“Such actions by Gordon Brown’s bankrupt band of followers only goes to raise the profile of the British National Party as well as helping us to recruit new members.”
Super steve says...
1:12pm Wed 3 Feb 10