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8:55am Thursday 8th February 2007
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Two Oxford students received death threats after lining up the chairman of the British National Party to appear on their university radio show.
Plans to have Nick Griffin on Oxford University Student Union's Oxide Radio have since been scrapped.
He was due to appear on The Big Idea show today to talk about 'Britishness', but the students' union has pulled the plug on it.
The union has a policy which prevents its services being used by the BNP and the National Front to promote their views.
he two presenters of the show, James Macadam, a geography student, and Max Seddon, a 19-year-old history and Russian student, both received handwritten death threats, delivered to their college pigeonholes, as well as e-mails.
Mr Seddon said: "We didn't really take the threats seriously and they would not have stopped us from doing the interview, but we were told by the union that if we did, we would be taken off air.
"We are not fascists or supporters of the BNP. We thought Mr Griffin would make an interesting guest. We have had left-wing extremists on the show before, like George Galloway, so thought we could have right-wing extremists too."
Station controller Paul Arrich said despite the pressure the two presenters had still been happy to carry out the interview.
He said: "They did receive death threats which caused a great deal of concern, but I understand this had not fazed them.
"They thought he would be an interesting guest."
There were also threats that the students' union building from where the show is broadcast would be stormed by protesters, despite Mr Griffin being
scheduled to give a phone interview.
Plans for the show have since been axed by the students' union, which runs the radio station and has the right to censor content.
Mr Arrich added: "The union decided to pull the plug on Mr Griffin. I didn't agree with this, but there is nothing we could do, as we are funded by them. It's a sad episode."
Ed Mayne, the union's vice-president of finance, said: "All activities are governed by the students' union.
"Two years ago, a vote was taken on whether we should allow the BNP and the National Front to use our services and facilities as a platform for their views.
"The outcome of that was 'no'. That was a democratically-taken decision. We have to abide by those policies."
Lee, Leeds says...
11:14pm Wed 7 Feb 07
Dave, says...
11:33pm Wed 7 Feb 07
Frederick Locke, Wales says...
11:49pm Wed 7 Feb 07
Lickyalips, Richmond says...
12:16am Thu 8 Feb 07
James, Oxford says...
12:59am Thu 8 Feb 07
DK, London says...
1:13am Thu 8 Feb 07
Grant, Sydney, Australia says...
4:15am Thu 8 Feb 07
Johnathan, London says...
4:46am Thu 8 Feb 07
M Young, London says...
7:39am Thu 8 Feb 07
Ray Ford, Yorkshire says...
9:00am Thu 8 Feb 07
TP, SW says...
9:27am Thu 8 Feb 07
andrew sim, Blackheath says...
9:30am Thu 8 Feb 07
Paul, says...
9:35am Thu 8 Feb 07
Carl Barron, Dorset says...
9:43am Thu 8 Feb 07
Richard Huzzey, Oxford says...
10:01am Thu 8 Feb 07
Mike, says...
10:06am Thu 8 Feb 07
Paul wrote:Paul is right - it's suspicious how many people from outside Oxfordshire have commented on this story. Strikes me there is an organised BNP write-in campaign on this one.
I never knew the Oxford Mail was read by so many BNP supporters across the country. They can't all have been emailed and told to post a comment can they? Surely not. Mind you, the average BNP supporter is so dim they probably assume nobody will notice. The BNP has zero support in Oxford so all you fascists in London, Yorkshire, Australia(!) etc. are wasting your time.
Lilly, Birmingham says...
10:23am Thu 8 Feb 07
Mike wrote: Does anyone seriously believe the BNP would extend the right to free speech to those who disagree with them?
George Sullivan, Leamington Spa says...
10:44am Thu 8 Feb 07
Tanya Bellingham - BNP, Oxford says...
10:45am Thu 8 Feb 07
Ken G. Farringdon, Leyburn says...
10:53am Thu 8 Feb 07
john winston beatson, sheffield says...
10:56am Thu 8 Feb 07
peries khan, oxford says...
11:01am Thu 8 Feb 07
Raymond, Oxford says...
11:05am Thu 8 Feb 07
Carl Barron wrote:"Death Treats"!? A new sweet on the market? If you meant detah threats - where does the report state these were made by the BNP? That would seem an own goal, wouldn't it.
Alleged \'Death Treats\' from the BNP. Seems to me to be a set up to halt legitimate discussion. Any e-mail is traceable, any hard copy threats can leave traceable evidence. If this were a true threat, then the Police should investigate to the full. British Government at this moment in time resemble a \'Political Mafia\' do you not agree?
william mccarthy, Ayr Scotland says...
11:08am Thu 8 Feb 07
gary, London says...
11:21am Thu 8 Feb 07
George Sullivan, Leamington Spa says...
11:22am Thu 8 Feb 07
Oxford Crusader, Oxford says...
11:48am Thu 8 Feb 07
William mccarthy, AYR Scotland says...
11:50am Thu 8 Feb 07
Terry Walton, Oxford says...
11:55am Thu 8 Feb 07
James, London says...
12:10pm Thu 8 Feb 07
Rosemarie, South West England says...
12:18pm Thu 8 Feb 07
Len Brown, Oxford says...
12:30pm Thu 8 Feb 07
Mark Clutterbuck, Bristol says...
12:44pm Thu 8 Feb 07
George Sullivan, says...
12:53pm Thu 8 Feb 07
George Deighton, london says...
1:09pm Thu 8 Feb 07
Simon, New York USA says...
1:09pm Thu 8 Feb 07
Peggy, Bucks says...
1:41pm Thu 8 Feb 07
Annie Rooney, Kent says...
1:46pm Thu 8 Feb 07
Martin, Essex says...
2:47pm Thu 8 Feb 07
Cllr Julian Leppert, Essex says...
2:53pm Thu 8 Feb 07
Linda Hurst - Biology Student, Oxford says...
4:26pm Thu 8 Feb 07
J J Hunt, oxford says...
4:39pm Thu 8 Feb 07
Bernard K. Longthorne, says...
4:39pm Thu 8 Feb 07
Patriot, says...
4:42pm Thu 8 Feb 07
Angharad, Preston, Lancs says...
4:50pm Thu 8 Feb 07
J J Hunt wrote:Another raving, idealistic, hate-driven idiot.
Call it what ever you like Britain of today is never going to be the same again. No left or right wingers will have a place, instead we will flourish as Great nation with all the races and creeds . So eat your hear out human haters, your time as come and GONR!!!!
Tom G., Oxford says...
4:53pm Thu 8 Feb 07
Chantelle de Seducio, says...
5:07pm Thu 8 Feb 07
Jon, Northumberland says...
5:30pm Thu 8 Feb 07
Walls come tumbling down, Oxford says...
5:31pm Thu 8 Feb 07
P Molloy, BNP, Liverpool says...
5:40pm Thu 8 Feb 07
Finbar Bryson, Nottingham says...
5:45pm Thu 8 Feb 07
dave, 072-402 says...
5:52pm Thu 8 Feb 07
Mark Anthony, Plymouth says...
6:19pm Thu 8 Feb 07
Henry Blandford - BNP, says...
6:20pm Thu 8 Feb 07
J J Hunt wrote:Example of example of JJ Hunt's nation with "all the races and creeds" living in his fantsasy rainbow multicult utopia ->
Call it what ever you like Britain of today is never going to be the same again. No left or right wingers will have a place, instead we will flourish as Great nation with all the races and creeds . So eat your hear out human haters, your time as come and GONR!!!!
Ian Kennedy, Swindon says...
7:00pm Thu 8 Feb 07
Jane Crocker, Dorset says...
7:11pm Thu 8 Feb 07
Paul, Oxford says...
7:34pm Thu 8 Feb 07
Rosemarie, South West England says...
7:51pm Thu 8 Feb 07
Benjamin Jowett, Oxford says...
7:57pm Thu 8 Feb 07
Claire B., says...
7:59pm Thu 8 Feb 07
Paul wrote:Oh dear!
Up to 57 comments now. Do you BNP morons realize what the typical comment count is on an Oxford Mail story? Zero! Nobody's reading your posts you halfwite! Sod off and hassle some Asians in your godforsaken inner city hellholes!
James Coulton MD, Oxford says...
8:04pm Thu 8 Feb 07
George, says...
8:10pm Thu 8 Feb 07
James Coulton MD wrote:Another font of truth and wisdom from the ranks of the great unwashed. Bring on the debate in which these loons claim they are going to defeat the BNP. After reading the articulate and far superior arguments of the BNP supporters I can't wait!
These BNP supporters are all closet nazis.
K. Pok, says...
8:14pm Thu 8 Feb 07
Rosemarie wrote:He thinks he owns Oxford too.
Poor Paul, Oxford. His offering to the debate sounds like a desperate rant from a typical leftie dimwit. He has managed to count up to 57; or was that a guess?
A. Morgan, High Wycombe says...
8:18pm Thu 8 Feb 07
Bazzah Brimtz, says...
8:21pm Thu 8 Feb 07
K. Pok wrote:You'd think K.Pok would be pleased with all the attention his cause is getting. After all, the BNP are, so why not not the multicultists?
Rosemarie wrote: Poor Paul, Oxford. His offering to the debate sounds like a desperate rant from a typical leftie dimwit. He has managed to count up to 57; or was that a guess?He thinks he owns Oxford too.
George, says...
8:25pm Thu 8 Feb 07
Greg Horton, Cowley says...
8:37pm Thu 8 Feb 07
Jeffrey Marshall, East London says...
9:01pm Thu 8 Feb 07
David Scott, Sunderland says...
9:04pm Thu 8 Feb 07
Cllr Julian Leppert wrote:"WELL SAID" Cllr Jullian Leppert
Those totalitarian marxist cranks who are so afraid to have their pathetic arguments comprehensively destroyed in open debate by Nick Griffin, should consider this: The BNP never has, and never will attempt to sanction, ban, censure, or otherwise restrict the opinions of our left wing opponents - no matter how treacherous or vile they may be. We believe passionately in the principle of free speech for all, and intend to extend and expand democracy in this country by way of such means as the Swiss-style citizens initiative referenda policy, which can be found on our manifesto available on the BNP website. Next time you see some unwashed, dregs-of-the-earth lefty on the TV or on campus squealing about `BNP fascists` please remember who the real fascists are... Cllr Julian Leppert British National Party. Freedom, Security, Identity, Democracy
Quickly catching on, Britain, remember it? says...
9:05pm Thu 8 Feb 07
Cames Joulton. V.D, Cambridge says...
9:19pm Thu 8 Feb 07
Andrew goldberg, Oxford says...
10:25pm Thu 8 Feb 07
Rizlas Fan, oxfordshire says...
10:26pm Thu 8 Feb 07
Rosemarie, South West England says...
10:34pm Thu 8 Feb 07
jaybee, manchester says...
10:58pm Thu 8 Feb 07
Lee, Leeds says...
12:00am Fri 9 Feb 07
Andrew goldberg, says...
12:14am Fri 9 Feb 07
TeddyBoy, Weybridge says...
1:42am Fri 9 Feb 07
Mrs G., North Wales says...
3:50am Fri 9 Feb 07
Nick Chance, Worcestershire says...
7:44am Fri 9 Feb 07
Daniel Levinson, Henley on Thames says...
9:16am Fri 9 Feb 07
Cameron D. - Oxford, says...
9:50am Fri 9 Feb 07
Chantelle de Seducio wrote:Many thanks, Chantelle. This news site is a real eye-opener.
Interesting news site - http://www.uktabloid.co.uk/Main%20News.html The Shilpa story is quite revealing!
James Lecker, Oxford says...
10:22am Fri 9 Feb 07
Mark, Windsor says...
10:30am Fri 9 Feb 07
Paul Geddis, Oxford says...
10:55am Fri 9 Feb 07
beegee palmer, cowley road says...
11:25am Fri 9 Feb 07
Rod Fanshaw, Oxford says...
11:35am Fri 9 Feb 07
Jean B., says...
11:48am Fri 9 Feb 07
Nick, worcestershire says...
1:11pm Fri 9 Feb 07
Jean B., says...
1:32pm Fri 9 Feb 07
Nick wrote:Thankyou, Nick.
Hi Jean - If you contact the BNP National Organisor at enquiries@bnp.org.uk who will be more than happy to help you.
baz, derbys. says...
1:33pm Fri 9 Feb 07
KenHoward, luton says...
1:37pm Fri 9 Feb 07
Ollie K., Abingdon says...
1:39pm Fri 9 Feb 07
Colin, says...
1:43pm Fri 9 Feb 07
Nick, Worcestershire says...
2:22pm Fri 9 Feb 07
Patriot, Oxford says...
2:35pm Fri 9 Feb 07
Ollie K., Abingdon says...
2:36pm Fri 9 Feb 07
Roken, Abingdon says...
2:45pm Fri 9 Feb 07
Jeff, says...
2:53pm Fri 9 Feb 07
Roken wrote:Why would the British National Party do such a counter-productive and childish thing?
You should notice the reaction from the politicians and the Police when a localish school was daubed with "racist" slogans: http://www.didcot.com/forum/
unioncat, says...
2:58pm Fri 9 Feb 07
Convert to reality, Oxford says...
4:09pm Fri 9 Feb 07
Hainhater, says...
4:33pm Fri 9 Feb 07
Bertie Basset, says...
4:57pm Fri 9 Feb 07
Toby, brent says...
5:04pm Fri 9 Feb 07
Larry, Oxford says...
8:10pm Fri 9 Feb 07
Brynny Valtsch, says...
8:19pm Fri 9 Feb 07
Jean B., says...
8:24pm Fri 9 Feb 07
Brynny Valtsch wrote:Hmmm .... I seem to recall a demonstration against cartoons .... definitely a link there somewhere.
Death threats and hatred of democracy. Now where have we seen that before?
Paul., Leicester says...
10:40pm Fri 9 Feb 07
Rizlas Fan wrote:Rizlas fan ....or should i call you left-wing weed smoker.
lol, this is funny. The bnp up the usual tricks of getting their supporters from around the country to come post on here. A bit like the forums. All the people posting on here will be told about this so that it will look like they have a major backing in the public. The sad thing is, they have the support of a few idiots and those idiots are quite vocal. Shows you what the scum are like. Any story breaks and they all head for it like flys to..... Sad people.
John Emmerson-Jones, Suffolk says...
10:55pm Fri 9 Feb 07
roy, says...
11:42pm Fri 9 Feb 07
N ina, E. Mids says...
9:53am Sat 10 Feb 07
Mr K Dinsmore, Northern Ireland says...
12:32pm Sat 10 Feb 07
Tony Cameron-Brown, says...
12:59pm Sat 10 Feb 07
Mr K Dinsmore wrote:It's always the same with dimwit students and unwashed, drug-addled screamers.
If only the pityful leftists, could see the damage they have done to their own cause, by not allowing this interview to go ahead. Can someone explain why a large percentage of students empathise with the left. It must be trendy or perhaps it makes them feel like they are making a bold fashion statement.
veronica jordan, Doncaster. says...
3:09pm Sat 10 Feb 07
Allen, England says...
3:43pm Sat 10 Feb 07
Lizzy Nellis, Oxford says...
3:53pm Sat 10 Feb 07
Brin K, says...
4:04pm Sat 10 Feb 07
Jean B., says...
4:09pm Sat 10 Feb 07
Dwain Pipe, Swindon says...
4:36pm Sat 10 Feb 07
George simpson, London says...
4:54pm Sat 10 Feb 07
Common sense really, London says...
10:34am Sun 11 Feb 07
Neil, Hull says...
12:04pm Mon 12 Feb 07
Andrew Spence, says...
1:26pm Mon 12 Feb 07
Neil wrote:Agreed. Let Griffin speak. The public will make up their minds without hysterical fascists telling them who can be heard and what they can and can't think.
Let Nick Griffin speak,this is supposed to be a democratic country (or was). We are able to make our own minds up,we dont want pot smoking students telling us what we can and cannot listen to. this is (or was) Britain aka Great Britain.
Jean B., says...
2:31pm Mon 12 Feb 07
Gerard Cummings, Oxford says...
2:55pm Mon 12 Feb 07
J. Chapman, Abingdon says...
3:13pm Mon 12 Feb 07
Shaun, Trafford says...
3:45pm Mon 12 Feb 07
Len Deighton, says...
7:20pm Mon 12 Feb 07
Neil, Hull says...
8:41pm Mon 12 Feb 07
Andrew Spence wrote:YES LETS HAVE THE BNP IN POWER.ALL MY FRIENDS AT WORK ARE SAYING THEY WANT A PEOPLES PARTY AND WILL NOW BE VOTING FOR THEM IN MAY, AFTER YEARS OF FOLLOWING THEIR FATHERS IN VOTING LABOUR.
Neil wrote: Let Nick Griffin speak,this is supposed to be a democratic country (or was). We are able to make our own minds up,we dont want pot smoking students telling us what we can and cannot listen to. this is (or was) Britain aka Great Britain.Agreed. Let Griffin speak. The public will make up their minds without hysterical fascists telling them who can be heard and what they can and can\'t think. The BNP is the only party telling the truth whether you like it or not. If you don\'t like the truth then step aside.
Lenny Coleman, Howden says...
9:13pm Mon 12 Feb 07
Neil, Hull says...
9:47pm Mon 12 Feb 07
Mike wrote:I have never had any contact with the BNP, or any member of this party! But ill vote for them in May because the other partys have ruined this once proud country. Millions of people have died in wars to make our country a great place to live. REMEMBER ???
Paul wrote: I never knew the Oxford Mail was read by so many BNP supporters across the country. They can\'t all have been emailed and told to post a comment can they? Surely not. Mind you, the average BNP supporter is so dim they probably assume nobody will notice. The BNP has zero support in Oxford so all you fascists in London, Yorkshire, Australia(!) etc. are wasting your time.Paul is right - it\'s suspicious how many people from outside Oxfordshire have commented on this story. Strikes me there is an organised BNP write-in campaign on this one. OUSU is completely within its rights to decide not to provide air-time to fascists. Grffin has plenty of other opportunities to air his views, which are imcompatible with the the time of harmonious international atmosphere that a university should provide. Does anyone seriously believe the BNP would extend the right to free speech to those who disagree with them?
Bri J., Donny says...
9:48pm Mon 12 Feb 07
Andy Spence, says...
9:53pm Mon 12 Feb 07
Lenny Coleman, Howden says...
10:40am Tue 13 Feb 07
George Sullivan, Leamington Spa says...
11:38pm Tue 13 Feb 07
Carat, Middle England says...
12:44pm Wed 14 Feb 07
Roderick Chambers, Oxford says...
1:46pm Wed 14 Feb 07
Tommo, Oxford says...
6:22pm Tue 13 Nov 07
Worried, Oxford says...
6:27pm Tue 13 Nov 07
john, newcastle upon tyne says...
8:44am Mon 26 Nov 07
Sarah, says...
10:35pm Mon 26 Nov 07
Onlooker, Standing on the sidelines says...
12:52am Tue 27 Nov 07
Sally, South Yorkshire. says...
3:51pm Sun 30 Dec 07
Annmarie, Canterbury.Kent. says...
5:41pm Sun 30 Dec 07
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Billy Boy, Oxfordshire says...
11:01pm Wed 7 Feb 07
For too long now Uni authorities have backed down in the face of the fascist left - it's about time they stamped down on these thugs in the interest of the rights of the majority. Universities are supposed to be centres of learning not of censorship through (empty) threat of violence.
Likewise I hope the police are leaving no stone unturned in seeking out these "plasi" terrorists from whichever stone they may have slip back under!