- Dozens of MPs, campaigners, and academics have signed an open letter demanding the cancellation of an event featuring Jason Arday’s accuser and self-described “race realist”, Nathan Cofnas, at Oriel College, Oxford.
- The talk, scheduled for 17 November and organised by Oxon Universities Reform Society, is titled: “An evening with Nathan Cofnas: Is DEI undermining higher education?”
- Prominent figures including Diane Abbott and Jeremy Corbyn argued the event “risks creating a hostile and exclusionary environment for students, particularly those of ethnic minorities”.
- Mr Cofnas previously sparked controversy by publicly accusing Professor Jason Arday of plagiarism prior to the Black Cambridge professor's death in August.
- Oriel College defended allowing the event, saying it is ”committed to upholding freedom of speech within the law and has a statutory duty to do so” and that student society bookings do not imply college endorsement.
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