Bangor University found themselves under fire as their ‘Debate & Political society’ ban Reform UK MP and campaigner, Sarah Pochin and Jack Anderton from attending a question-and-answer session at the university, claiming that they have “zero tolerance for any form of racism, transphobia or homophobia displayed by the members of Reform UK”. When asked for a comment the university distanced themselves from the decision claiming the society was run by the student union and that they supported debate and conversation “across the political spectrum”. The University’s student union were also asked for a comment and claimed that the society remains “politically neutral and supports freedom of speech within the law”.
When the society were asked to comment on the matter, they stood by their decision and encouraged other societies to follow suit. The explanation by the student union shows how the decision is “in line with our values”, adding: “We stand by this decision as a committee. Their approach to the lives of others is antithetical to the values of welcoming and fair debate that our society has upheld for 177 years,” the society said.
We are proud to be the first of the debating unions to take a stand against Reform UK. We strongly implore our fellow societies to join us in keeping hate out of our universities.”
Reform UK’s head of policy, Zia Yusuf threatened that a Reform government would consider stripping the £30m funding from the university. Shortly after the ban was announced Yusuf went to X and commented on the matter, explaining “Bangor receives £30m in state funding a year, much of which comes from Reform-voting taxpayers.
I am sure they won’t mind losing every penny of that state funding under a Reform government.”
However, Welsh Reform UK candidate Francesca O’Brien has distanced herself from Yusuf’s comments explaining how Reform’s manifesto is yet to be released and therefore isn’t policy yet.
But it has been suggested that Reform UK will hope to introduce a policy that will see universities face financial penalties and a possible withdrawal of funding, if freedom of speech is not respected. When other MPs were asked on the matter, they all respected the society’s decision with Labour’s Calum Higgins comparing Yusuf’s comments to that of US President Donald Trump, adding that the behaviour is “in Trump’s footsteps and threatening a university over something he didn’t like”.
With Plaid Cymru’s Nerys Evans expressing the potential discourse that this may cause under a Reform government, “if it’s freedom of speech, if it’s stuff to do with climate change, stuff to do with the Welsh language - if you don’t agree with Reform, your funding is going to be cut.”
It seems unlikely that all funding will be cut from Bangor University after Welsh Reform members have doubted the decision to cut funding. However, policies are expected to be announced in Reform’s upcoming manifesto that encourage free speech within university and across the education sector, with penalties in place for those that are perceived to not follow the expectations.