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

That is irrelevant Galaxy. They get to choose.

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.

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

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

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?

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.

....especially not by the English.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

I mean the students not reform.

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.

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....

As I have said SP views on the trans issues are exactly the same as mine, unless I have missed something. I view anyone who thinks men should be in women's spaces as deeply deeply misogynistic. Utter bigots.

Universities do a lot more than teach 18-22 year olds. It is, IMO, ridiculous to threaten the future of a research institution because a society that is not regulated by university management has refused to give a platform to a speaker they don't like.

Students are often given to rather simplistic and knee-jerk responses to things - I remember the SU refusing to have newspapers which had 'page 3 girls' in them stocked in their shop when I was a student. It was a point of principle, and extended to a small picket with banners outside a couple of local newsagents. It will have made no difference, as the number of sales of tabloid papers from one shop on a campus (the university-owned outlets still stocked them anyway) would be tiny, and as the newsagents wouldn't allow the protesters into the premises (understandably) customers could buy what they liked in absolute safety. All the same, it was an introduction to standing up for what we believed in, and maybe one or two people who wouldn't have done so otherwise changed their minds about supporting sexism in the form of having photos of semi-naked women in 'newspapers'.

Basically though, we were just making a point. Which is what I suspect the SU at Bangor is doing. As has been said, it is their society and their choice who has a platform there. Pious lecturing about the finer points of bigotry is pointless and irrelevant - they will do what they like, as is their right.

AGAA4

I read in a yougov poll that large numbers of Reform voters have lower education attainments and tend to be mostly manual workers.

Maybe they are hard working and struggling to make ends meet and have little time to read or think about politics and just believe what Farage says. Want to believe what he says.

Having said that I do know people who have high levels of education and will vote for Reform.

That , precisely, is the disadvantage of democracy. Democratic suffrage needs an educated electorate to work as democracy should work.
True, some manual workers are educated, but not in sufficient numbers. In addition to well performing comprehensive schools we need tertiary education for all.

So, those Reform folk were seeking to impose their event upon the debating society,
which was at odds with how a debating society operates
which is to debate.
And somehow the debating society is in the wrong?
For wanting to debate?

I am also surprised by how people can confuse the views and decisions of the planning committee of DebSoc, with the entire University.
Do they really think a University works like that?

Caleo

AGAA4

I read in a yougov poll that large numbers of Reform voters have lower education attainments and tend to be mostly manual workers.

Maybe they are hard working and struggling to make ends meet and have little time to read or think about politics and just believe what Farage says. Want to believe what he says.

Having said that I do know people who have high levels of education and will vote for Reform.

That , precisely, is the disadvantage of democracy. Democratic suffrage needs an educated electorate to work as democracy should work.
True, some manual workers are educated, but not in sufficient numbers. In addition to well performing comprehensive schools we need tertiary education for all.

I find your post highly offensive Caleo, condescending and very snobbish. Perhaps you're unaware that formal education has nothing to do with intelligence or the ability to reason. The Labour Party was founded by mostly manual workers was it not, were they too stupid for you too?

And it isnt as if the middle class 'educated' voters have been nodding along with any idiot mantra that comes along in the last few years.

I was only posting the results of the polls.
As I said I know some people who have degrees, master's degrees and work in teaching and medicine so well educated.
That they will vote for Reform does make me wonder.

Galaxy Mon 16-Feb-26 12:50:50
"As I have said SP views on the trans issues are exactly the same as mine, unless I have missed something. I view anyone who thinks men should be in women's spaces as deeply deeply misogynistic. Utter bigots".

If you were referring to members of the Bangor debating society they have not said they support men in women's spaces- no one has on this post to date, unless I've missed that. No need to make accusations of misogyny and bigotry where none exists.

As you say you and SP share the same views on "trans issues", if either of you, or both are willing to act as an proponent on a "trans view" motion in debate and challenge with the opponent speaker of said "trans issue" motion you could get in touch with Bangor or any other university debating society. You or SP could offer your time and give availability. In a crowded field of possible debating topics, close to the heart of the debating society, it's up to them whether your suggested "trans view" motion is compelling enough to be chosen such that they take your/SP's offer up whilst declining others of lesser interest..

One of the reason they gave for refusal was 'transphobia', certainly SP s views are the same as mine, i.e no men in women's spaces , anyone that views that as transphobia then yes I will call them misogynists. It is if course the problem with throwing those words around.It doesnt help society to function, in fact it is incredibly divisive, but once you start throwing the words around don't be surprised if people respond.