2:15pm Friday 12th February 2010
HUNDREDS of students who protested against the cancellation of a debate featuring two BNP politicians have won an apology from the president of the National Union of Students.
The Durham Union Society had been planning to hold a debate on multiculturalism tonight – but called it off amid fears of violence.
Unite Against Fascism (UAF) had vowed to stop the event, and that was followed by a letter from the NUS.
The letter was sent to the DUS, Durham Students’ Union and Durham University by Bellavia Ribeiro-Addy, the NUS’ black students officer, and Daf Adley, the NUS’ lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender officer.
The letter warned of a “colossal demonstration” if the debate went ahead, with coach loads of students being bussed into Durham.
“If any students are hurt in and around this event, responsibility will lie with you,”
they wrote.
On Tuesday, Wes Streeting, president of the NUS, visited Durham, and said the letter was unacceptable, utterly ridiculous and those responsible had been asked to account for their actions.
Mr Streeting was speaking at a meeting of the DUS, held in the debating chamber, Palace Green, Durham.
He called the forum after thousands of students joined an internet campaign protesting against the cancellation of the multiculturalism debate.
About 300 students attended the meeting. There were some BNP members and police outside.
Mr Streeting was verbally abused as he arrived, but the event passed peacefully.
Paul Nicholls, from Durham University Students for Freedom of Speech, who launched the internet campaign, accused the NUS of “bullying”.
Mr Streeting said the NUS did not want the BNP to have a platform on university campuses.
But he added: “Had I seen that statement (the letter) before, it would not have left the building. It was an appalling error and ultimately self-defeating.”
He admitted that students were “massively, monumentally p***ed off” at the NUS.
Tonight’s debate had been due to feature Kulveer Ranger, an adviser to Boris Johnson, Conservative MP Edward Leigh, BNP MEP Andrew Brons and Chris Beverley, a BNP councillor in Leeds.
The BNP said its cancellation meant the enemies of free speech had won the day, with Mr Brons calling for the debate to go ahead over the internet instead.
Durham University registrar Carolyn Fowler said: “The university supports the right to freedom of expression on campus in line with its code of practice and we respect the decision of our students to demonstrate peacefully.”
Anna Birley, the president of the DUS, said she was confident the debate would have been intelligent, responsible and an opportunity for students to expose and challenge offensive views; and was disappointed the focus had become the planned confrontation outside.
Simon Assas, from the UAF, called the cancellation a victory for common sense and for people who wanted to stand up against racism and fascism.
He claimed a Jewish student had reported a changed atmosphere on campus since the debate was announced.
Police stressed they did not ask for the debate to be cancelled.
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