Students’ union bans Tories in free speech row

By Harry A STUDENTS’ union has banned a university’s Conservative society from using its social media accounts – because they challenged its position on free speech.

Lincoln University Conservative Society has been censored by its student union after it posted an image online showing that the university was ranked “very intolerant” on free speech in a survey. In response, the union swiftly suspended the society’s social media accounts, on the grounds that highlighting the ranking had brought it into disrepute.

However, the decision has been met with derision from social media users and Karl McCartney, the Tory MP for Lincoln, who said union officials should be “ashamed”.

“This intolerant, illiberal and totalitarian response is akin to something out of the Soviet Union or North Korea rather than a place for learning and debate,” he said. “As well as the irony of banning a society for expressing their concern about free speech, the students’ union ‘snowflakes’ are so self-obsessed they forget Lincoln is the home to one of the original Magna Cartas, the foundation stone of freedom the world over.”

He added: “I am sure the authorities of the university itself will be embarrassed by this, as it does not help the university’s reputation for tolerance, debate and learning.”

Hull University Conservative Association claimed the union defended the move on the grounds that the society had brought the university’s reputation “into disrepute”.

“Their student union, upon being criticised for being anti-free speech, has silenced those complaining about a lack of free speech,” it said.

A spokesman for Lincoln University said the students’ union had its own set of policies on free speech, adding that it respected its right to govern independently.

Lincoln Students’ Union said it was unable to comment on “live disciplinary matters”, but it was “proud to protect the rights of all individuals to express their opinions, ideas and concerns”.

‘This intolerant response is akin to something out of the Soviet Union’