Reform UK and Tory figures have condemned the Welsh campus for shutting down free speech.
Sarah Pochin MP was banned from debating at the university (Image: Getty)
Reform and Conservative politicians have erupted with fury after a Reform UK MP was banned from attending a debate at Bangor University by woke students. In a statement yesterday, the snowflake students at the Welsh university’s debating and political society said they had received a request from MP Sarah Pochin and Reform activist Jack Anderton to attend a debate and take part in a question and answer session.
The student society said: “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.”
Zia Yusuf slammed the ban, suggesting funding should be pulled from the university (Image: Getty)
“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 news of the ‘ban’ sparked immediate fury across the political spectrum, with Reform’s head of policy Zia Yusuf pointing out that Bangor University received £30 million in state funding a year, including 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 wouldn’t want a racist’s money would they?”
Richard Tice, the party’s deputy leader, agreed with Mr Yusuf, saying British taxpayers “should not have to fund” a university that does not believe in free speech.
Top Tory Andrew Griffith also condemned the ban (Image: Getty)
They were backed by top Tory frontbencher Andrew Griffith, who quipped: “Bangor debates must be as tedious as eternity if they only include those 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 piece of Tory legislation enforcing free speech at universities.
However, the powers introduced by the act were halted by the Labour government as one of their first acts in July 2024, with Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson saying she was considering repealing it on the grounds that it imposes too heavy a burden on universities.
Ms Phillipson insisted that the government remains “absolutely committed” to freedom of speech and academic freedom.
Bangor University was approached for comment.
