If you want to know what Reform would be like in power, look at how it threatened Bangor University

Clearly Reform does not understand what a debating society is and what it does.

A debating society is not part of any university syllabus. By definition it's a student led society, usually affiliated with the Student's union. The students choose a topic of debate and then invite speakers to support either opposing motion- FOR or AGAINST- leading to a vote. That is 1, 2 or more speakers in proposition and 1, 2 or more speakers in opposition. Many politicians over many years have been invited to speak on proposition or opposition of the motion/topic chosen by university debating societies.

Formal structured debate then takes place offering a platform for student and/or external speakers. This helps student speakers to develop public speaking, and all to develop rhetoric and analytical skills in a supportive, often social environment.

SP and JA weren't offering availability and willingness to attend as a proponent or opponent on a political topic chosen by the debating society- in order to help the students. Instead they sought to proscribe a Q and A session (Insert your own reasons for Reform's motivation), wanting no challenge from any opponent speaker/s from any other political party on any particular motion. It's not the purpose of the D society for students to just turn up and ask questions of one political party. There is no proponent/ opponent debate in that.

If SP and JA were not seeking to go to a debate in line with the constitution of the debating society thus the Bangor society legitimately turned down the Reform Q and A session command/request/expectation ( insert your own form of words) as Reform has somewhat gained a reputation for making, seemingly on a weekly basis, racist and discriminatory comments (not in line with Equality Act 2010 let alone the university policy in line with that or the debating society's constitution.)

No doubt SP and JS's communication prompted debate in the debating society on receipt- forgive the pun 😉. In another life, if I had been a member, I would have sought to persuade my debating colleagues, on receipt of such an invitation to agree a debating topic such as:

" Political parties in the UK should support a zero tolerance to racism, homophobia and transphobia and investigate then appropriately discipline any party member who does not uphold the behaviours set out in the Equality Act 2010" .

Then responded to SP and JA along lines- we welcome your approach- would you be willing to come and join us for this topic and if so what availability do you have? Also send same invitation to other political parties in other political parties informing them which parties are invited. I might also have suggested inviting local media reporters in Bangor no doubt interested to see which parties accept invitation, what they say on the day- and whether the Ayes or the Nos win!

FWIW- I doubt SP and JA would be so interested in turning up to actually debate any such a topic and be challenged....

Casdon

Do you ever feel you are whistling in the wind? This is the last time I’m going to say this. It was up to them. If you don’t like their decision, tough s..t. It wasn’t up to you, nor should it be.

No, it's not up,to us.

But a University education is supposed to open your minds to possibilities, examine them and find reasons to accept or reject those ideas.

They can keep their own opinions but refusing to have those opinions challenged means they have closed minds.

It's all part of a learning curve which they appear to be rejecting.

I mean the students not reform.

Yes thank god I don't have to deal with that bunch of homphobic misogynists.

I've never thought that Nigel Farage would be a good PM as he has a history of poor attendance as a Euro MP, and then again whilst he is a MP in the UK Parliament. Farage would never cope on a PM's salary as he earns nearly a million pounds doing other work. My real fear is the Ex tory people who have joined Reform. People like Braverman and Jenrick are really ambitious and would aim to be a leader of Reform.
Then the nightmare of Reform being in power could be a reality.

Do you ever feel you are whistling in the wind? This is the last time I’m going to say this. It was up to them. If you don’t like their decision, tough s..t. It wasn’t up to you, nor should it be.

They could have had a lively question/ answer debate and learned something about Reform or were able to show to their own satisfaction that Reform wasn’t for them.
If students continue to be snowflakes about visiting speakers it shows how uncomfortable they are with different views.

Mamie

....especially not by the English.

Well, there will be students there from RUK as well as about a fifth being international students.

They missed a trick - showing Ms Pochin how well they are integrated!!

A bit slow on the uptake there.

....especially not by the English.

Casdon

Galaxy

It is relevant if they are calling people bigots because of it. It is funny that in years to come they will be seen as the bigots on that particular subject.

That’s life. I don’t suppose they will lose much sleep when bigots call them bigots, will they?

It does seem unreasonable to accuse the whole of Bangor University of being bigoted. That wouldn't go down well in North Wales.

Galaxy

It is relevant if they are calling people bigots because of it. It is funny that in years to come they will be seen as the bigots on that particular subject.

That’s life. I don’t suppose they will lose much sleep when bigots call them bigots, will they?

If Reform can't take a 'no thanks', then why should they ever be trusted with power?

If Sarah Pochin had come up with a motion to debate with the DebSoc it might make more sense. What did she expect?

It is relevant if they are calling people bigots because of it. It is funny that in years to come they will be seen as the bigots on that particular subject.

That is irrelevant Galaxy. They get to choose.

Allira

When they older and more mature they might think that they should have had the courage to take her on and demolish her arguments logically!

That isn't how a University DebSoc event normally works though.
Basically two or three people moving the motion, two or three
opposing the motion, then questions from the floor and a vote.

I have just looked up her views on trans rights, unless I am missing something horrific, they are identical to mine. Bog standard gender critical views.
Looks like I am never going to be able to speak to the students of Bangor, their loss

Maremia

Reform offered a question and answer session and the university club said 'no thanks'.
Then Reform threatened the University.
Is that normal?

No, it's childish.

Allira

When they older and more mature they might think that they should have had the courage to take her on and demolish her arguments logically!

Maybe when she realises how she is viewed by students she will think that it was unwise to try to impose herself on them and then complain when they didn’t want to engage with her. I suspect both scenarios are equally likely.

Reform offered a question and answer session and the university club said 'no thanks'.
Then Reform threatened the University.
Is that normal?

Oreo

Mamie

Oreo

Unfortunately Mamie that was then 😲

I have never had any sense of what you are describing from my grandchildren at university Oreo. The one who is a medical student is certainly more grown up than a lot of adults I know.
Do you see that in the university students you know in real life?

As for Sarah Pochin she wanted question and answer. Did she really want to meet a seasoned debater across the table? There were some pretty good (particularly Welsh) orators when I was there.

Mamie am I right in thinking you’re in France?
A lot of our universities here in the UK have students unions that are hotbeds of trans activism, and antisemitism where the students tell the faculty what they should and shouldn’t do and who isn’t allowed on university grounds.Staff are scared of reprisals if they don’t go along with their wishes.Guest speakers are no platformed and university staff sometimes lose their jobs if they dare speak out or incur the wrath of students.
It’s a sad situation.

Granddaughters and all their friends, plus the children and grandchildren of our friends, have been or are at universities in the UK, as that is where they all live. We hear a lot about their lives. The biggest problem recently seems to be how thinly spread the university staff are, because of cuts.
I also see and hear the media stories.
I have some friends with children in French Universities, but don't know much about internal politics. They go to local universities and have minimal fees.

When they older and more mature they might think that they should have had the courage to take her on and demolish her arguments logically!

Allira

Casdon

I think it’s more that they don’t want to waste their time engaging with bigots who will publicise inaccurately after the event, and twist what students say to their own ends Allira. University students are inexperienced but they are not stupid.

Sadly, they cannot see that they are bigoted in their own way too.

Of course they are, but that shouldn’t mean that other people can tell them who to entertain in their own group?

Casdon

I think it’s more that they don’t want to waste their time engaging with bigots who will publicise inaccurately after the event, and twist what students say to their own ends Allira. University students are inexperienced but they are not stupid.

Sadly, they cannot see that they are bigoted in their own way too.

And again that is what a number of universities called many women who were raising concerns about women's rights and child safeguarding, they behaved incredibly stupidly on that issue.
It is very rare in my experience for people who shout transphobia to not use homophobic arguments in their defense of men in women's spaces.
I would be very interested in what they view as transphobia.