Former Liberal Democrat MP Norman Baker has hit out at Bangor University’s debating society after it blocked Reform UK from holding a student event, calling the decision “misguided”.
It comes as Reform MP Sarah Pochin had sought to visit the university and participate in a question-and-answer session with students, but the Bangor Debating and Political Society turned down her request.
The society justified its refusal by pointing to its strict policy against discrimination, stating it maintained “zero tolerance for any form of racism, transphobia, or homophobia displayed by the members of Reform UK”.
Speaking about this on GB News, host Alex Armstrong said: “I mean, it’s ridiculous. It’s supposed to be a debating society.”
Responding, Mr Baker agreed: “Look, I’ve got no time for Sarah Pochin. I think some of the things she’s said are quite ghastly, to be perfectly frank with you.
“But the way you deal with people you don’t agree with is to challenge them on an open platform and put your views forward. I’m not in favour of anyone being banned.
“If you go back far enough, to the 1980s, there was a ludicrous decision by the Government to stop Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness from speaking on television.
“That was a great morale booster for the IRA at the time.
Former Liberal Democrat MP Norman Baker hit out at the university
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GB NEWS
“You don’t solve problems by banning people.
“You let them go there, have their say, and then take it apart if necessary.
“Nick Griffin was on Question Time for the BNP, and people said he shouldn’t have been on the programme.
“He got demolished by the audience and by the rest of the panel. That’s the way you deal with people.”
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Zia Yusuf, head of policy for Reform UK, condemned the society’s decision, threatening to cut funding to the entire university if Nigel Farage’s party win the next general election.
Taking to social media, he said: “Bangor University has banned Reform and called us ‘racist, transphobic and homophobic’.
“Bangor receives £30million in state funding a year, much of which comes from Reform-voting taxpayers.
“I am sure they won’t mind losing every penny of that state funding under a Reform government. After all, they wouldn’t want a racist’s money, would they?”
A spokesman for the University said: “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.”
They claimed their first and foremost duty was to “ensure a welcoming and enjoyable debate environment for our members,” adding, “in this instance, it was felt that platforming these individuals would not support this”.
Nick Pritchard, an independent Bangor city councillor, said he is “saddened and shocked” by the decision and the biggest problem is “no one wants to debate”.