After weeks of consideration, the York SU have controversially decided to recommend the ratification of a Restore Britain society. This comes after the launch of this party in February this year by ex-reform MP Richard Lowe.
After this decision, the university will now have a student society for all English political parties. (Someone needs to bring some SNP and Plaid Cymru representation). The only other university with a Restore Society is our sister university York St. Johns.
The application for the societies’ ratification was submitted to the University of York Students’ Union in March. The application was met with significant criticism both online, and physically on campus (#analoguelife). On the 23rd of April, around 100 protestors gathered outside the SU building to discourage the SU to approve the Restore Britain ratification.
The SU’s Societies Committee referred this application to the decision to the SU’s Board of Trustees. Together, they “consulted with lawyers” and had “extensive discussions” before deciding to recommend the ratification.
They explained that this decision came from the legal requirement to remain politically neutral as a charity and their commitment to freedom of speech as an organisation within higher education.
In response, the Restore Britain Society took to Instagram with an AI-generated Lady Liberty post saying “the scales have been reset”. A thoroughly disappointing missed chance to say “the scales have been Restored”.
The University also echoed the freedom of speech angle taken by the SU. “Not everyone will agree with the decision to ratify, but supporting the right for our students to join together in societies, to protest peacefully, and to promote lawful, differing views which is a fundamental part of a functioning democracy.”
Many students expressed disappointment and fear with this decision, stating that it creates an unsafe environment for minorities on campus. Commenters flooded the social media post announcing this decision, accusing it of “protecting harmful behaviour” and “actively encouraging hate on our campus”. They continued to call the decision “disappointing”, “soft spined” and “atrocious”.
The SU affirmed that “ratifying a society is not an endorsement”.
“This does not mean the SU supports Restore Britain’s views. It does not mean your officers support them,” they continued.
Both the University and SU reiterate their zero tolerance policy on hate speech and urge students to report any unlawful or unsafe behaviour on campus. Alternatively, if you’re particularly passionate about EDI policies, why not pitch it at Restore Society’s ‘Dragons Den’ event tonight. Treating policies like mere business ideas – foreshadowing much?