St Andrews withdraws BNP invitation

Saturday, 5 February 2005 12:00 AM

A top university has withdrawn an invitation to the British National Party leader to address students.

Nick Griffin had been asked to take part in a debate at St Andrew's University on the shortcomings of multiculturalism.

But organisers of the event at the Fife establishment were cancelled their invitation following protests from Scotland's National Union of Students.

The national body sent a fax to all student groups in the country asking them to press St Andrew's debating society into cancelling Mr Griffin's appearance.

Officials at the university - attended by Prince William - said it had called off the debate after "serious security concerns involving the personal safety of the student body".

But president of the university's debating society, Peter Blair, maintained that talking publicly about controversial views was the best way to deal with them.

"We stand by all our previous statements. Our society will continue to be characterised by freedom of speech and intelligent debate," he said.

Anti-racism groups welcomed the decision to cancel the appearance, but the BNP leader attacked the move.

"This is again an example of the violent and intimidating type of leftism towards the patriotic people of the BNP," he said.

Tags: