With recent events in mind, I’m more worried about the NUS and UAF.

[Obligatory sentence explaining how I don't actually support the BNP, but support their right to speak if they wish to.]

The sides should be united by their hatred of the BNP, and their desire to adopt tactics to confront them. Whether that’s an intellectual debate in the Durham Union Society or the UAF protesting on the street, they both despise the BNP.

BNP members and supporter must remember this: the students and activists involved in this debate were trying to work out the best way to fight against you.

That’s the UAF for you. Try phoning them and asking a tricky question, they put the phone down. Laughable.

We were explicity aware that DSU and DUS were different groups; we explained this to students as we petitioned.

I was with the person who called DSU officers when she made the phone calls (Laurie Drake actually called her over an unrelated issue, not the other way around as reported) and she only pointed out the obvious based on experience, she at no point made any threats of violence or implied that UAF would incite or behave violently. I find it entirely laughable that anyone would find the person in question (who was not the regional organiser of UAF as reported) intimidating and suggest that anyone who claims to have been intimidated was posturing.

UAF had no choice but to arrange a protest (to do nothing would be to accept and comply with Nazis), the EDL would have attended (they generally do) and behaved aggressively (they always do) and then there would probably have been a violent confrontation, one which would be on the hands of people in possitions of authority whom could have avoided it. I would also point out that the vast majority of people at an anti-BNP protest would have been members of the public, unaffiliated with UAF whom UAF would not have been responsible for – who can say how they would react the presence of Fascist dressing themselves up as reasonable and presentable members of society.

The Management of Durham University absolutely did the right thing by calling off the debate, as did NUS by opposing it and applying pressure to call it off.

The ‘no platform for the BNP’ policy is not the same as a ‘no freedom of speech for the BNP’ policy. How do you expect to combat BNP rhetoric by helping them air it on a platform? Placing Nazis on a platform of any kind helps them communicate their racist, homophobic views. Why not invite anyone else to speak on multiculturism? Why Nazis?

I hope Durham University students that organized and attended the freedom of speech protest understand that the protest was attended by members of the BNP (in disguise presumably) and has been used as Nazi propoganda on their website – please see for yourselves – these people are now actively helping the Nazis gain support. I praise the students of Durham University involved for their anti-Nazi stance but I seriously suggest they re-examine thier tactics because thier current tactics have the opposite effect of that intended. UAF uses the tactics it does because they work, I invite any anti-Nazi to work with us.

I also hope they noted that UAF had no pressence there – we do not appose freedom of speech, we oppose Fascists.

To the editor of Palatinate – feel free to get in touch, you have my email address as given to submit this message.

I do not intend to answer questions or respond to comments on this website.

And what was this about the BNP not using bullying tactics? Ironic really. But you’re an organised lot, I’ll give you that much. You’re certainly making the most of the platform handed to you by the FoS brigade.

I completely agree with Vicky”

Start of a wonderful relationship…? Placards against free speech at the ready gurls!