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

I hope universities have turned a corner generally. Jordan Peterson, I think was re invited to Cambridge recently, after they originally caved to protests.

Galaxy

As I say it sounds very much how many feminists were treated. Especially the accusations of transphobia that have no impact on anyone anymore.

So are you saying that debates run by students should be controlled to reduce the risk of a repeat of that? Sorry, I’m unclear what you are getting at here?

I know it’s a long time ago, but I was in the debating society, and we discussed the daftest topics - the point was the debating process - and the wackier the subject the more students turned up, it was great fun, and taught us the art of debate, which can be applied to any subject.

As I say it sounds very much how many feminists were treated. Especially the accusations of transphobia that have no impact on anyone anymore.

The replacement course for Home Economics is called a GCSE in Food Preparation and Nutrition, Food Technology is a different GCSE. I suspect the underlying issue is that so many schools no longer have the facilities to teach it.

Exactly Casdon, university student debating societies should not be dictated by Reform, or anyone else as to what they discuss and who they invite to their debates. If a well organised society they may have already chosen debate topics and have already sent out invitations and accepted speakers for this academic year.

Currently the UK is a democracy- I for one do not want a Reform government challenging democracy and seeking to enforce any authoritarian regime on universities in a similar way we have seen in the US with Trump.

Home Economics has been labelled Food Technology for the last few decades. 😉

I don’t know or care what they debate, my point was that it’s up to them entirely to decide, in my opinion. I’m sure you’re right about left handed tennis players by the way!

I don’t see that any dictating will be at all effective… no one has to attend debates. Reform needs to calm down? Of course debating societies set their own topics. Casdon

No debate it is a real advantage, my son is a left handed tennis player.
I think if you then make accusations such as transphobic that moves the conversation a bit, as I say that slur was levied at many women. I do wonder if they would want to debate streeting for example, he has been treated terribly for his alleged 'transphobia'.

Home Economics would be a good fit for Mr Anderson, Allira!
Perhaps he could encourage universities to develop a graduate level course, and a Masters, and then a potential for a PhD
...

I meant how Anderson arrived at the 30p. They got a pro chef into the local FE college to do a Ready Steady Cook challenge. £50 of ingredients. They served the food to staff and students in tiny paper cups. They got 175 helpings of a couple of spoonfuls each. £50/175 is just under 30p. That’s where Anderson’s claim of being able to cook a meal for 30p came from.

Sorry. This is derailing. Back to the Reform party stooge known as Zia Yusuf. A reminder of how he came to be involved in Reform.

Before Farage parachuted back in to dupe the voters of Clacton, the Reform company was technically insolvent. It was only afloat because Tice had loaned it over a million pounds which the company couldn’t repay. Along comes Yusuf with a £250,000 donation paid straight to Tice as part of the loan repayment on the understanding that Tice give up the chair in favour of Yusuf. He held the post for a year, then had his famous two-day “Why am I wasting my time?” flounce and now David Bull is chair.

Remember what the argument was at the time? Yusuf had criticised Sarah Pochin after she urged the PM to ban the burka "in the interests of public safety" Yusuf said it was "dumb for a party to ask the PM if they would do something the party itself wouldn't do. A burka ban is not Reform party policy.”

Isn’t this the same kind argument now being made over university funding? Yusuf shouting his mouth off about something that isn’t policy … when, as you say LJ, he is literally Head of Policy.

It’ll be something else next week. After Zahawi’s idiotic media round, Reform are considering an income tax on being tired. Working title TIT. A pilot scheme will be trialed in London, starting at a gentle 10% for looking like you haven’t slept for a week, 20% for looking like you haven’t slept for two weeks and so on. There will be a surcharge if, while being tired, you inadvertently frighten a minor attention-seeking Belgravia-dwelling MP who is forced to swerve into the road and falls down a pothole.

It is worth pointing out from the OP, that Reform requested a question and answer session with Sarah Pochin.
That is not and never has been the format of a university debate.
Would she have wanted a proper debate? I very much doubt it.

You’re talking as though you think the subjects they discuss should be dictated to them Galaxy, which surprises me. If they want to debate the merits of lefthandedness for tennis players rather than Reform policies, that is entirely up to them, surely?

Good one Allira. Home Economics. Made me chuckle.

What I was asking ronib was whether they should be dictated to as to what they discuss, given they set up and run it themselves?

Yes but it means their frame of reference is very narrow. If 'you' are unable to debate reform I assume you haven't coherent arguments against their policies etc..

Students can of course vote with their feet… debating societies are not obligatory…. It could be a bit like the House of Commons? Talking to one or two?

The alternative is not to give student bodies the right to determine what they as students wish to discuss in their debates. They are autonomous at present.

Primrose53

Debating means listening and commenting on different points of view. So Bangor just wants to debate to people who agree with them?

Unfortunately it isn’t just Bangor but most universities debating societies seem to consist of snowflakes and activists for something or other, pretty strident ones as well.
If you’re Reform/Conservative/ Jewish/an advocate for women’s spaces they don’t want to know.

LemonJam

Bangor didn't 'ban" Reform. Neither has Bangor debating society ever said it only wants to invite speakers to their debates ( the clue is in the name) who "agree with them". The university debating society merely politely declined Reform's approach to request that Sarah Pochin and Jack Anderton (Reform's replica of Charlie Kirk) come to speak. The debating society members weren't sufficiently interested in those 2 speakers, politely declined and gave its reason- "zero tolerance for racism, transphobia or homophobia".

Currently in the UK it is entirely acceptable and common for an organisation in the UK to state it has zero tolerance of racism, transphobia and homophobia. Such a statement aligns with legal requirements to provide an inclusive environment and prevent discrimination- Equality Act 2010. Most organisations, e.g. NHS, schools, universities etc have policies in place clearly defining what constitutes unacceptable behaviour, including "offensive language, verbal abuse, unwanted or abusive remarks and stereotypical comments" of which both Sarah Pochin and James Pochin have a track record.

It was open to Reform to provide assurance that neither SP or JA would in fact be racist, transphobic or homophobic- but then pigs might fly I guess as Reform/Farage are openly dismissive about such matters under the excuse banner of "free speech". Instead Reform's head of policy took to X to threaten loss of funding to universities if elected if universities don't agree/accommodate/comply with Reform's request.

Reform however not accept that universities also are entitled to "freedom of speech" and would strip funding of organisations deemed to be none compliant with Reform's requests and expectations.

Thank you for such a well explained answer 👍

Allira

^If you know the story of where the 30p claim came from, that will make sense.^

Oh, was it not 30p Lee?
My mistake!

Yes, I was right, it was Lee Anderson in a speech in the House of Commons after he'd visited a food bank in his constituency.
I didn't think I'd misremembered.

🤔

If you know the story of where the 30p claim came from, that will make sense.

Oh, was it not 30p Lee?
My mistake!

Home economics? Only if they have a pro chef on hand and a supply of tiny paper cups. If you know the story of where the 30p claim came from, that will make sense.

LemonJam, I wouldn’t be too concerned about what Yusuf threatens on social media. Farage is building up quite a record for using him as media fodder and then does the opposite to make his underling look foolish. Look at what Yusuf posted about Braverman’s and Jenrick’s incompetence … and then Farage welcomed them both into the party. Look at all his posturing over DO(L)GE and what has happened? Record council tax rises from Reform lead councillors. It’s all noise to keep Reform in the headlines.

Chocolatelovinggran

I remember reading in their manifesto, later modified, I believe, that they would tell universities what they may, or may not teach. Refusal to adhere to their guidelines would result in withdrawal of funding.
I found the idea of Lee Anderson instructing the staff at Oxford, Cambridge, Edinburgh, and LSE, in curriculum matters rather amusing.

Well, he could teach Home Economics somewhere, perhaps?