Union dancing to racists' tune 3

Some university teachers and their unions are discriminating against students who are members of the BNP.

But if education is about learning to think logically, then an assessment of the BNP's beliefs and its alleged "racism" and "fascism" should obviate any need for excluding BNP students. Lecturers should use their powers of analysis and debate to show their students just how bad the BNP really is - but instead they use insults and threats of exclusion.

The only conclusion is that they are not confident of winning the debate, and perhaps they also realise that the truth might start to emerge as to just how much damage 50 years of postwar liberalism and enforced diversity have done, not just to our educational institutions but to our wider society in general.

Phill Edwards National press officer, BNP You argue that higher education unions should steer clear of students who are members of fascist parties because this merely gives them publicity. No doubt it does. Unfortunately, if known and active BNP students are left undisturbed to spread their racist poison, this gives their activities the air of normality they also crave.

To read The THES , one might imagine there are thousands of students with BNP membership cards out there. In reality there are very few, and to leave them makes a mockery of every equal opportunities policy ever written.

Keith Flett
London

Join the debate on www.thes.co.uk/commonroom