Bristol Labour Students opt out of Brexit debate because Tory Society organised event

By Ed Southgate, co-Editor-in-Chief

Bristol Labour Students have refused to take part in a "Drunken EU Debate" with the other political societies because they ‘were not comfortable’ participating in joint events with conservative students.

Co-Chair of Bristol Labour Students, Ruth Day, told Epigram: ‘Tory Society have been asking us to do joint events and lots of our committee weren’t comfortable with that.'

She added: 'When we heard about the “Drunken EU debate”, we thought it was something they were organising so weren’t keen to get involved’.

Last academic year, Bristol Labour Students co-hosted a 'political speed-dating' event with the Bristol University Conservative Association (BUCA). Epigram understands that a motion has since been passed by the new Bristol Labour Students committee that all joint-events must be approved by a motion at the committee.

'Tory Society have been asking us to do joint events and lots of our committee weren’t comfortable with that.' - Ruth Day, Bristol Labour Students co-Chair

BUCA Chairman, Harry Eastley-Jones, lamented the decision. 'The situation is a sad reflection of the hardening of the political discourse in recent years. Just because you disagree with someone does not make them a bad person’, he said.

'As political societies, we should be able to respect each other’s sincerely held beliefs and engage with each other in the free debate of ideas, which is what university is supposed to be all about.'

Day confirmed that Bristol Labour Students will be hosting their own separate events later this academic year to internally discuss ‘what the progressive response to Brexit should be’.

'Just because you disagree with someone does not make them a bad person.' - Harry Eastley-Jones, Bristol University Conservative Association Chairman

It comes during heightening tensions between political wings on university campuses, with values of free speech and open debate coming into question.

Last academic year, Conservative backbencher Jacob Rees-Mogg's ticketed speech at UWE was stormed by masked protestors. The MP for North-East Somerset said it was 'sad' that they did not engage in discussion, choosing instead to shout and disrupt.

Rees-Mogg returned to the city the following fortnight to speak to Bristol University's Conservative Association. Heightened security measures were introduced at the last-minute to protect against similar disturbances.

These included not announcing the location of the talk until one hour before the event, while guests were strictly required to show both their university ID and a ticket with their name on to security outside before being allowed into the building.

There was also a police presence, with over 10 officers to keep protestors and attendees separate.

Featured Image: Epigram / Ed Southgate