Britannia Radio

25 February 2010 Wimps at the University of Bath   Earlier this week I had agreed to speak to a group of 100 or so politics students at the University of Bath.  The date and arrangements were agreed some weeks ago.   As part of a series of talks by people with differing views on British membership of the EU I would have the floor for about 30 minutes, to be followed by questions.  There was to be no debate with other speakers.  We would merely follow one another.   My brief included an invitation to discuss my time as an MEP, and outline why UKIP members and millions of others are ‘eurosceptic’.   Personally I am not a sceptic, but I understood what was meant.    Then silence.  No further contact.  I sensed a problem.  Then, a couple of days before the due date I was told one of the other speakers (not named, and whom I had been told I would not meet) had refused to speak at the same event so long as I was on the agenda.  The entire event had been cancelled, but it was not made clear who had taken the decision – the authorities or the students.   Since this is a University, and the students are studying politics, the implications of this cancellation are important.  So I replied to the last-minute cancellation email with the following message:   Sirs   So much for democracy.  How puny of your University not to stand up for free speech.  You should have sent the complainant packing, not buckle.    God help this once great country if our young aren’t able to see what is right and wrong.    Haven’t you seen enough of the way the left uses personal abuse, inflammatory language about anyone expressing contrary views about the great issues of the day, immigration for example, and innuendo to stifle opposition?    You’ve just seen an example right under your noses.   Such intolerance of dissent is taking us on the road to a new form of totalitarianism – a new Soviet Union.  Read Orwell’s 1984 again, and remind yourselves.   I am happy to come to Bath at any mutually convenient time and hold a debate with [your students] on the EU and British membership of it.  They can invite someone with a contrary view and that’s absolutely fine by me.   And please remind them of Voltaire’s great maxim “I may disagree with you but I will defend to the death your right to say it.”  (Not entirely accurate quote, and there is doubt Voltaire ever actually said it.  But right all the same.)   You may also post this reply to whomsoever you wish.  And may I suggest a visit to my website www.ashleymote.co.uk where there is a small mountain of material about Britain and the EU   My parent’s generation laid down their lives for our independence, liberty, honour, free speech and tolerance.      What are you going to do?   Ashley Mote   So far there has been no reply.  I do not expect one.       To respond to, or comment on this Email, please email ashley.mote@btconnect.com Click www.ashleymote.co.uk to visit the site now.