Irving invited to Nottingham
Controversial holocaust denier and revisionist historian David Irving has been invited to address Nottingham University's debating society. The Forum is said to be in discussions with Irving, and the Head of Public Relations, Phillip Dalling, has today confirmed that society also "have the backing of the Student Union."
Irving will address the Forum on "The difficulty of writing the history of the Third Reich", and has been called "racist and anti-Semitic." One member of Nottingham's Jewish Society even said that the invitation felt like "a personal attack on me as a Jew."
The meetings have sparked fierce opposition from both NUS and Union of Jewish Students officers, who say Irving will face demonstrations if he should choose to come. The Nottingham Student Union have defended their actions on the principle of free speech, with Press Officer Jim Vine commenting "it will be educational and beneficial to students". The NUS say that "free speech is being stretched too far", but Nottingham's Union insist that while they are affiliated with NUS, they do not have to "follow all policy lines".
Events could mirror a clash between the Oxford Union and OUSU last Hilary term, when Irving was 'uninvited' to stand in opposition in a debate on the freedom of speech at the Union. On that occasion, a Special Public Business Meeting was called by members in a bid to force the withdrawal of the invitation. It is not yet clear whether any major protest action will be taken by Irving's opponents in Nottingham.
24th Jan 2002