David Irving and Nick Griffin have been invited to speak this November at a forum held by the Oxford Union, Oxford's internationally famous debating society. They're controversial speakers: Griffin is the hatemongering leader of the openly racist British National Party, and Irving is a discredited pseudo-historian and Holocaust denier.

Understandably, a lot of people are upset. Unite Against Fascism, OUSU President Martin McCluskey, JSoc - they've all condemned the invitation to debate. Some groups are planning to demonstrate against the event taking place.

And I think they're completely wrong.

If free speech is to mean anything, it has to apply to everyone - and not just to nice people. Once you start restricting people's right to debate in public, based on subjective criteria, you're going down a very dangerous road. The only limits to free speech should be against incitement to violence and discrimination - and we already have robust laws for that.

Like the overwhelming majority of Oxford students, I abhor the BNP. I've gone out to campaign against them in local elections. And as a Jew whose great-grandparents fled from the Nazis, I condemn Holocaust denial as a disgusting perversion of history. But I believe the best way to beat racism and bigotry is to tackle it head on, in open debate.

I say bring it on! I'm confident that Irving and Griffin are wrong, and I'm happy to argue with them publicly, not silence them. Tolerance and truth will always win through. But if we shut them up, we make martyrs of them, and give the world the impression that we have something to hide.

This is the message to everyone who will be standing outside the Union with their placards on Monday - the freedom of speech which Irving and Griffin are benefitting from is the very same freedom of speech which is allowing you to demonstrate against them. If they can't make their views heard, then neither can you. And anyway, if you're confident that your views are right (which they are), then what are you scared of? (read less)

David Irving and Nick Griffin have been invited to speak this November at a forum held by the Oxford Union, Oxford's internationally famous debating society. They're controversial speakers: Griffin is the hatemongering leader of the openly racist British National Party, and Irving is a discredited pseudo-historian and Holocaust denier.

Understandably, a lot of people are upset. Unite Against Fascism, OUSU President Martin McCluskey, JSoc - they've all condemned the invitation to debate. Some... (read more)