Last
updated: October 2006
BNP
banned from debate
Students
at the University of Exeter have voted against allowing the British
National Party (BNP) to speak at a debate on campus.
The decision
came after fears were raised that allowing the party’s presence
would be too dangerous and that an adequate response could not be guaranteed.
On September 29 Alex Davies, President of the university’s Debate
Society (DebSoc) proposed a motion that BNP leader Nick Griffin and
two other party representatives should be permitted campus access to
take part in a debate.
The motion
was opposed by two postgraduate students Tim Atherton and Tim Paulden
claiming that the presence of the BNP could endanger students and that
their extreme views would be in violation of Exeter Student Guild’s
anti-discrimination Equal Opportunities Policy.
Emma Cussell, the deputy President of DebSoc, assured that security
would be her main priority when organising the debate and guaranteed
that if the BNP did not agree to only bring three representatives she
would cancel the event.
Those opposing the BNP’s attendance stated that no other university
in the UK would allow them on campus because both the police and the
National Union of Students (NUS) advise against it.
The motion
was finally lost with a margin of two votes.
Mr Davies told local student newspaper Exeposé, “Obviously
DebSoc are disappointed that the debate can’t go ahead but we
also respect the decision made at the General Meeting.”
“The society in no way condones the actions, beliefs and political
opinions of the BNP but simply believed they should be allowed to debate
on campus.”
“As a debating society we feel we have a duty to provide controversial,
interesting and relevant motions for Exeter students. We will not be
pushing the Guild to change its mind or reverse any decision.”
