In response to the decision by the University of Lincoln Students’ Union to take away control of all social media accounts managed by the Lincoln Conservative Society, Karl McCartney JP MP, Member of Parliament for the City of Lincoln, stated:
"This intolerant, illiberal and totalitarian response is akin to something out of the Soviet Union or North Korea rather than a place for learning and debate. The loony-left has certainly taken over it seems at the University of Lincoln Students’ Union and this is another chapter in their knee-jerk desire to stifle debate which revealed itself as they began ‘no platforming’ people they don't like including those who are democratically elected.
"As well as the irony of banning a society for expressing their concern about free speech, the Students’ Union 'snowflakes' are so self-obsessed they forget Lincoln is the home to one of the original Magna Cartas, the foundation stone of freedom the world over. This lack of self-awareness and willingness to stifle inconvenient truths is an unbecoming trait in anyone, but is particularly pernicious when demonstrated by a Students’ Union based at one of the traditional centres of our national democracy.
“I am raising my concerns about this decision not because it is the Conservative Society. As a firm believer in freedom of speech I would do the same for any student society in my Constituency who were in this position so long as they were acting within the law.
"I am sure the authorities of the University itself will be embarrassed by this as it does not help the University's reputation for tolerance, debate and learning. They should send a public message to say they disassociate themselves from their Students’ Union's actions. I would urge mainstream students, who make up the majority of students in Lincoln, to take appropriate action to show their unhappiness at the actions taken by the Students’ Union on their behalf. They are clearly not running the Union in their (the majority of students) interests. They are a loony left laughing stock, no doubt supported by the jokers in the local Labour Party."
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For further information, please contact Karl McCartney JP MP at [email protected] / 020 7219 7221.