Motion to refuse affiliation of Reform UK Society proposed to Lancaster University’s SU

A motion to refuse affiliation to the Reform UK Society has proposed for debate at the upcoming Lancaster University Students’ Union’s (LUSU) Annual General Meeting.

The proposal, submitted anonymously, alleges that the Reform UK Society’s leadership has not aligned with LUSU’s principles of respect and non-discrimination.

The motion asks the Students’ Union to refuse affiliation until the group can “demonstrate sustained compliance with LUSU’s Code of Conduct and equality obligations”.

The proposal alleges that the Reform UK Society leadership has “removed opposition posters from designated boards, suppressing free speech”, “posted discriminatory content in University group chats and public social media”, and “made multiple students feel unsafe or unwelcome, which has resulted in reports to the University”.

Providing a statement to The Lancaster Tab, Lancaster Reform UK Society President Jack Eccles responded these accusations: “From what I’m aware the posters removed were Reform are Racist posters and ban the Racist Reform society posters… these posters were put on student union managed notice boards.”

Jack further added: “In regards to its accusation of my posting of discriminatory content, nothing I have ever posted breaches the law or is extremist rhetoric in any way.”

This comes following an increase in attention to the Lancaster Reform UK society, including a recent video by PoliticsJOE. Within the video, Reform UK Society members and the wider student population discuss the emergence of the society, freedom of speech, and the dissatisfaction with current UK politics.

Furthermore, the motion takes issue with the conduct of the society rather than its political affiliation. It adds: “The Reform UK Society’s current conduct, not its political affiliation, demonstrates repeated breaches of LUSU’s Code of Conduct and Equality Act-protected standards.”

Most Read

Plumber breaks silence on what his experience with Bonnie Blue was *really* like

The bleak aftermath of Bonnie Blue’s 1,000 guys in 12 hours challenge, in pictures

Woman who ‘died’ for eight minutes describes exactly what she saw, and it’s terrifying

The proposal asks that the Students’ Union resolves to “refuse affiliation, when affiliation re-opens, to the Reform UK Society in its current state until it can demonstrate sustained compliance with LUSU’s Code of Conduct and equality obligations”.

Regarding Lancaster Reform UK Society’s future potential affiliation, the motion asks for the requirement of the group to “submit an action plan addressing past misconduct”, “establish and publish an internal governance that includes mandatory training on non-harassment and equality law for all society leadership, a transparent complaints route, and clear sanctions for breaches”, and “issue a public statement committing to respectful engagement”.

However, Jack added that he and fellow society members have faced “harassment” for their membership of the society.

In a wider scope, the statement also asks that all political societies should “sign an annual declaration committing to non-harassment, equality legislation and respectful conduct” with breaches of this declaration resulting in “disciplinary action up to de-affiliation”.

The proposal ends with the request that the Lancaster University Students’ Union “state explicitly that groups whose actions (not merely views) promote discrimination or hostility toward protected characteristics are ineligible for affiliation or funding”.

The proposal will be debated in the upcoming LUSU AGM, which will take place on Tuesday, 17th June at 4:30pm in Faraday Lecture Theatre.

For the motion to pass, it must reach a vote of at least 150 in support, otherwise it will be classed as void. The vote is open to all Lancaster students in attendance or through proxy-voting.

Lancaster Reform UK society president, Jack Eccles further commented: “The motion is an attack on our political affiliation as our conduct does not breach any laws and our personal views are represented by the party.”

Jack added: “The university are fully aware of all the comments that have been made and what has been sent to them in the past and it all comes under free speech.”

Lancaster University told The Lancaster Tab: “Lancaster University is a safe and welcoming place to work and study where the right to free speech within the law is upheld and people should expect to meet with opinions that do not necessarily align with their own.”

The university added: “LUSU is a separate legal entity with its own codes of conduct and structures and the university would expect student organisations seeking affiliation to comply with those codes.”

The Lancaster Tab reached out to Lancaster University Students’ Union for comment, but did not receive a response.

Featured images via Lancaster University Students’ Union and Reform UK.