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NUS 'no platform' policy goes 'too far' and threatens free speech, warns Peter Tatchell NUS 'no platform' policy goes 'too far' and threatens free speech, warns Peter Tatchell
(35 minutes later)
Leading human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell has said that student-led oppression of free speech within universities has gone “too far”, following new reports that nearly two thirds of students are in favour of controversial “no-platforming” policies.Leading human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell has said that student-led oppression of free speech within universities has gone “too far”, following new reports that nearly two thirds of students are in favour of controversial “no-platforming” policies.
A survey commissioned by the BBC suggests that 63 per cent of UK university students believe the National Union of Students (NUS) is right to have a “no platform” policy, whereby individuals or groups with opinions deemed to be offensive can be banned from speaking on student union premises. A survey commissioned by the BBC suggests that 63 per cent of UK university students believe the National Union of Students (NUS) is right to have a “no-platform” policy, whereby individuals or groups with opinions deemed to be offensive can be banned from speaking on student union premises.
More than half (54 per cent) of students surveyed also thought the policy should be actively enforced against people who could be found intimidating. More than half (54 per cent) of students surveyed also thought the policy should be actively enforced against people who could be found intimidating. 
Appearing on the Victoria Derbyshire programme to debate the issue on Monday, Mr Tatchell said the current “no-platforming” policy held by the NUS was a dangerous threat to free speech within learning institutions.Appearing on the Victoria Derbyshire programme to debate the issue on Monday, Mr Tatchell said the current “no-platforming” policy held by the NUS was a dangerous threat to free speech within learning institutions.
Speaking to The Independent, Mr Tatchell said: "Just because a majority of students support a policy does not make it right. Democracy does not include the right to vote away the free speech and human rights of others."Speaking to The Independent, Mr Tatchell said: "Just because a majority of students support a policy does not make it right. Democracy does not include the right to vote away the free speech and human rights of others."
“All bigots should be protested,” he added, “I don’t think people with offensive views should be given a free pass. They should be challenged. The best way to do this is by open debate to refute their intolerance. If you censor of ban them, the ideas just get suppressed. They don't cease to exist and they cannot be effectively countered."“All bigots should be protested,” he added, “I don’t think people with offensive views should be given a free pass. They should be challenged. The best way to do this is by open debate to refute their intolerance. If you censor of ban them, the ideas just get suppressed. They don't cease to exist and they cannot be effectively countered."
“No-platform” policies have increasingly become the subject of fraught debate over the past few months, with a host of high profile speakers including feminist writer Germaine Greer and human rights activist Maryam Namazie asked not to appear at student events for fear that their opinions would be upsetting to some students.“No-platform” policies have increasingly become the subject of fraught debate over the past few months, with a host of high profile speakers including feminist writer Germaine Greer and human rights activist Maryam Namazie asked not to appear at student events for fear that their opinions would be upsetting to some students.
Most recently, King’s College London revoked a speaking invitation extended to the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, after he made “inappropriate” remarks about President Barack Obama’s ancestry. Most recently, King’s College London revoked a speaking invitation extended to the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, after he made “inappropriate” remarks about President Barack Obama’s ancestry. 
Chief Executive for HOPE not Hate, Nick Lowles, was reportedly “no-platformed” by the NUS in February on the grounds that he is “Islamaphobic”. The anti-racism and fascism campaigner responded on social media that the NUS had “officially become a joke” after “ultra-left lunacy” stopped him from speaking at the anti-racism conference.Chief Executive for HOPE not Hate, Nick Lowles, was reportedly “no-platformed” by the NUS in February on the grounds that he is “Islamaphobic”. The anti-racism and fascism campaigner responded on social media that the NUS had “officially become a joke” after “ultra-left lunacy” stopped him from speaking at the anti-racism conference.
Referring to the increasing number of activists blocked by student unions, Mr Tatchell said during the BBC debate: “The intention behind 'no platform' and 'safe space' policies is often honourable and commendable, to protect weak and vulnerable students. But the way they are being widely interpreted has gone too far.”Referring to the increasing number of activists blocked by student unions, Mr Tatchell said during the BBC debate: “The intention behind 'no platform' and 'safe space' policies is often honourable and commendable, to protect weak and vulnerable students. But the way they are being widely interpreted has gone too far.”
“To treat a left-wing speaker[s] in this way is not left-wing politics. It is McCarthyism”.  “To treat a left-wing speaker[s] in this way is not left-wing politics. It is McCarthyism." 
NUS Vice President, Richard Brooks responded: “There is a difference between no-platforming – a democratic policy decided on by organisations – and what’s happened in a number of situations like Nick [Lowles]’s is, essentially, there was a house party and you weren’t invited.”NUS Vice President, Richard Brooks responded: “There is a difference between no-platforming – a democratic policy decided on by organisations – and what’s happened in a number of situations like Nick [Lowles]’s is, essentially, there was a house party and you weren’t invited.”
One LSE student replied that “universities aren’t house parties; they are institutions where you are meant to be challenged. I am a gay man with a disability but I don’t need your protection."One LSE student replied that “universities aren’t house parties; they are institutions where you are meant to be challenged. I am a gay man with a disability but I don’t need your protection."
The NUS official “no-platform” list contains six groups including the British National Party and Al-Muhajiroun, a banned Islamic network in the UK. Individual unions and student groups can however decide on their own policies and reject people on an individual basis. Current NUS guidelines ask student unions to “balance freedom of speech and freedom from harm”.The NUS official “no-platform” list contains six groups including the British National Party and Al-Muhajiroun, a banned Islamic network in the UK. Individual unions and student groups can however decide on their own policies and reject people on an individual basis. Current NUS guidelines ask student unions to “balance freedom of speech and freedom from harm”.
Speaking on the debate programme, feminist writer Julie Bindel, who was banned from speaking at Manchester University in October, spoke of the negative reaction she has received as a controversial speaker on campus. Read more
“There is no such thing as a safe space,” said Ms Bindel, “we need to talk to each other and find a way in which we can progress the argument."  
The NUS said it was proud of the policy and the fact that the majority of students surveyed agreed showed demonstrated that the policy was necessary in standing up to racism and fascism.The NUS said it was proud of the policy and the fact that the majority of students surveyed agreed showed demonstrated that the policy was necessary in standing up to racism and fascism.
A spokeswoman said: “In the past, students have been physically harmed and tragically even killed as a result of such organisations coming on to campuses and inciting hatred. That is why no platform was introduced in the first place, to keep students safe in a very real sense.” A spokeswoman said: “In the past, students have been physically harmed and tragically even killed as a result of such organisations coming on to campuses and inciting hatred. That is why 'no platform' was introduced in the first place, to keep students safe in a very real sense.”
”Our policy does not limit free speech, but acts to defend it by calling out violence, hate speech, bullying and harassment, which allows debate to take place without intimidation. Students' unions are champions of debate on campus, in fact a recent survey showed zero out of 50 students' unions had banned a speaker in the past year."”Our policy does not limit free speech, but acts to defend it by calling out violence, hate speech, bullying and harassment, which allows debate to take place without intimidation. Students' unions are champions of debate on campus, in fact a recent survey showed zero out of 50 students' unions had banned a speaker in the past year."
Speaking on the debate programme, feminist writer Julie Bindel, who was banned from speaking at Manchester University in October, spoke of the negative reaction she has received as a controversial speaker on campus.
“There is no such thing as a safe space,” said Ms Bindel. “We need to talk to each other and find a way in which we can progress the argument."