Mick Hartley

William Clouston, SDP leader, joins the swelling ranks of those targeted by trans activists when invited to speak at a UK university:

Last month, I travelled to York University to give a talk, at the kind invitation of its Free Speech Society. Given that I was due to speak on international trade and industrial policy, it came as something of a surprise when the event was met with fierce opposition from York’s LGBTQ+ Network. It had taken against the meeting and was urging students to boycott the event.

The LGBTQ+ Network probably objected to the firm stance my party – the Social Democratic Party (SDP) – has taken on the protection of biological sex-based rights. If so, its members would have been free to attend the meeting and debate any issues with me directly. I would have welcomed the chance to hear their views. And I might have enlightened them that it was Roy Jenkins – one of the co-founders of the SDP – who introduced the Sexual Offences Act 1967, which decriminalised homosexuality in England and Wales. They would have discovered that our party’s record on gay rights is unimpeachable. Indeed, it is precisely this stance that informs our scepticism of trans ideology.

But the LGBTQ+ Network had no desire to debate. Instead, it opted for agitation. This consisted of both picketing the event and publishing baseless and defamatory claims on social-media platforms. Before the event, the LGBTQ+ Network alleged that: ‘Clouston and the SDP have repeatedly expressed racist and transphobic views.’ No evidence was presented for this claim. Other opponents of my visit added fuel to the fire. ‘[We] can’t let fascists openly espouse racist and transphobic hate on our campus…’, said one.

We were advised the day before the event that protests and even possible disruption were likely. Both myself and the Free Speech Society were determined to carry on regardless. And to its credit, York University provided additional security. Professional protection was secured for myself and the event went ahead, although protesters could be heard shouting outside the lecture theatre throughout.

No quarrel with the man's views on international trade and industrial policy, apparently – what he was actually speaking about.

My experience at York raises a wider issue. Those who do not conform to fashionable orthodoxies face an uphill battle if they want to speak at a university. Prior to my visit, York University Students Union (YUSU) provided me with a behaviour contract I had to sign on equality and diversity – totalling over 14,000 words. This in itself is enough to deter some speakers. It’s not hard to understand why.

In fact, the idea that a university event should be a ‘safe space’ defeats the very purpose of a university. The university should really be a safe space for hearing challenging ideas. However, I was confident that my views on tariff reform and trade would not breach any equality guidelines. And so I signed the rules and followed them.

What is revealing is that while I was compelled to comply with these pages and pages of regulations in my talk, it appears that the LGBTQ+ Network could seemingly do as they pleased. The double standard is clear.

The double standards in the trans debate have been clear for a long time: abuse and threats – up to and including death threats (see JK Rowling) – are common and entirely expected from trans activists, while any questioning of trans ideology is hateful bigotry which must be banned and silenced.

But – the SDP has taken a firm stance on the protection of biological sex-based rights? Who knew? Well, good for them.