Oxford condemns students’ ‘no-platforming’ of Amber Rudd

The University of Oxford has condemned the decision by a student society to disinvite former UK home secretary Amber Rudd from an event to mark International Women’s Day.  

The institution said that it would be “taking steps” to ensure such a situation doesn’t happen in future, after Ms Rudd said she was “no platformed” 30 minutes before the event was due to start.

“In Conversation: Amber Rudd” was organised by the UNWomen Oxford Society and due to take place on 5 March.

In a Facebook post days before the event, the group, which aims to involve university students in advocating for gender equality, said that students had concerns about her appearance, seemingly due to her links with the Windrush scandal, which led to her resignation.

However, the group said that Ms Rudd had been invited “on the understanding that this would be an honest and frank conversation about how her policies have impacted wom*n of all races, religions, classes et cetera”.

“We will not run away from mentioning any of Ms Rudd’s past comments or policies, and we ask you to attend this event to help us campaign for a truly frank feminism which is not afraid of taking such opportunities to discuss these issues with high profile figures,” the post continued.

However, after a vote by the society’s committee the appearance was cancelled on the day.

Ms Rudd tweeted that the decision was “badly judged and rude” and said that the students “should stop hiding and start engaging”.

In response, Oxford said that it “strongly disapproves” of the decision by the group. “Amber Rudd had stated that she was prepared to discuss issues arising from her time in the Home Office and she should have been given the opportunity to do so,” a spokesman said.

“The university is strongly committed to freedom of speech and opposes no-platforming. We encourage our students to debate and engage with a range of views, and to treat others with the courtesy and dignity that they would expect themselves.”

The statement said that the university would make its “position and feelings very clear to the event organisers” and would take “the necessary steps to ensure that this cannot be repeated”.

No platforming and the issue of free speech is an ongoing battleground in UK higher education. Last week the issue raised its head again when Oxford academic Selina Todd was uninvited from the International Women’s Festival because of her views on transgender issues. 

At the last election, the Conservative party’s manifesto pledged to strengthen free speech in universities and, in an article for The Times in February, education secretary Gavin Williamson said that the government would take action if universities did not provide “unambiguous guidance” on academic freedom and free speech.

However, a recent survey found most students don’t feel free speech is under threat in higher education.

anna.mckie@timeshighereducation.com