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One of the world’s most prestigious debating societies faces resignations, open letters and censure motions after inviting far-right agitator Tommy Robinson to speak.
Unrest over the Oxford Union’s invite to the convicted former English Defence League leader comes as Byline Times can reveal suggestions of a deal with GB News to broadcast the event, which has been postponed by several weeks following protests.
Several sources close to the Union say the President arranged for the right-wing channel — whose presenter Jacob Rees-Mogg is a trustee of the Union’s charity — to broadcast the debate nationally, beaming an otherwise fringe nationalist figure onto TV screens across the country.
Former Conservative minister Rees-Mogg sits on the board of the Oxford Literary and Debating Union Charitable Trust, which exists for “the advancement of education amongst the members of the University of Oxford by the provision of debates.”
As such, presenter Rees-Mogg is responsible for ensuring the charity’s activities further its charitable objectives – and don’t expose it to reputational, financial or legal risk.
Ex-actor turned far-right activist Laurence Fox, as well as sacked GB News host Calvin Robinson, are also speaking on the same side of the motion, titled “This house believes the West is right to be suspicious of Islam.”
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Two sources close to the Oxford Union allege that Rees-Mogg helped broker an arrangement whereby GB News will record and broadcast Robinson’s now-delayed appearance in front of the city’s 200-year-old debating society, arguably the most prominent such body in the world.
There is no allegation he broke any rules. But a deal for Britain’s right-wing broadcaster – recently dubbed ‘Reform TV’ by critics – to showcase a convicted criminal and anti-Islam agitator is the latest in a series of controversies surrounding the event.
As well as speaking to senior Oxford Union figures, Byline Times has seen formal questions (‘rule 39 motions’) put to Oxford Union president Arwa Elrayess expressing anger over the Robinson invite.
One states: “You have…arranged for GB News – the primary mainstream broadcaster responsible for amplifying Tommy Robinson’s platform and anti-Islam narratives – to film this debate and broadcast it nationally.
“This Union’s debates are for its members. They are not content for GB News. Madam President, given that GB News has agreed to film this event, can you tell this committee honestly whether this decision serves this institution’s membership? And can you tell us whether it is this institution’s interests you are serving, or your own personal platform?”
Another, from a separate Union member, states: “Madam President, you are happy to protect the free speech of Tommy Robinson. You are extending him an Oxford platform, arranging for GB News to broadcast him nationally and have defended him in the Telegraph and on GB News.”
Arwa Elrayess is Palestinian and stood on a pro-Gaza platform, and appeared to tack to the left during her election. However, she has taken to the right-wing media in recent weeks to defend her decision to invite Robinson, in what two Union sources allege is an attempt to build her profile for a potential political career.
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One union source claimed that Jacob Rees-Mogg had got “very, very close to the Union,” though he has had no formal role in organising it.
“Sometimes things you do at Oxford and the Union do have a real-world impact, because they still have an outsize effect on how the rest of the world sees things politically. You tell people what’s acceptable and what isn’t.” Another Union source said the recordings were often uploaded effectively as speeches – meaning the renowned student-led body would be effectively publicising a 12 minute speech by the far-right figure.
Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, has a string of convictions including in 2005 for assaulting an off-duty police officer, leading a brawl involving more than 100 football fans in Luton (2011), head-butting a man at an EDL rally in Blackburn that same year, using someone else’s passport to enter the United States in 2013, mortgage fraud in 2014, separate convictions for contempt of court in 2018 and 2024, a five-year stalking protection order in 2021, as well as being successfully sued for libelling Syrian schoolboy Jamal Hijazi that year.
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Resignations and Protests
The Chief Advisor to the President and SU Sabbatical Officer for Communities resigned their post over the actions of their former close ally.
Shermar Pryce said in a resignation letter: “After the clown show that was the performance by senior members of the committee…I cannot, in good conscience, remain on a committee with people who are so intellectually dishonest and morally corrupt.
“The blatantly deliberate decision to obfuscate and communicate with maximum opacity to members of the committee or the wider membership regarding this is indefensible.
“Facilitating [Tommy Robinson’s] appearance, practically in secret, without even mentioning it in the TermCard [list of upcoming events], demonstrates a complete lack of conviction and a cowardly refusal to face the membership you claim to represent. Many members of the committee had no idea that Tommy Robinson would be coming until they saw the OxStu [Oxford Student] article.”
Pryce went on: “To not rethink this invite, after members of all backgrounds and dispositions have expressed their concerns and fears, borders on malicious.”
The Union’s librarian, Prajwal Pandey, also made his objections clear in a speech: “I made my concern about this invitation clear from the outset. Not because I fear difficult debate, but because I care deeply about its quality, its integrity, and who it serves…
“Going forward, we must think far more carefully, about what and whom we choose to platform, and about the responsibility that comes with every invitation we extend.”
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In another letter of protest, Alex Evans (LGBTQIA+ Officer) wrote: “The Union does not maintain a consistent policy on the matter of free speech, as I was personally prevented by an aforementioned disgraced member of committee from inviting speakers from Plaid Cymru and the SNP on the grounds they were too divisive. If Welsh and Scottish independence are beyond the pale of free speech, but calling for war against British Muslim…is not, then it is not a matter of free speech, but the desire for publicity, controversy, and shock value which is being placed above public safety and reasoned debate.
“Tommy Robinson’s presence only serves to inflame and spread violent rhetoric, rather than contribute meaningfully to the discussion between religion and politics.”
The event is understood to have been postponed to 17th June, which in a grim coincidence, coincides with the Islamic New Year. It is the last possible date the debate could be held before the end of term, and the end of Elrayess’ term as Union president.
The Oxford Union failed to answer a series of specific questions and allegations raised by Byline Times. It did not deny it had a deal with GB News to broadcast the event.
Instead a spokesperson defended the event and said: “The Oxford Union exists to host conversations that would not otherwise take place; such is our commitment to freedom of speech. We do not invite speakers in order to endorse or confer legitimacy. They are invited to have their ideas scrutinised and claims challenged in open debate. We are grateful to Thames Valley Police and Oxford City Council for their support and engagement with us, ensuring the safety of our community.”
Jacob Rees-Mogg did not respond to a request for comment.
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