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  "path": "/celebrity/bev-turner-bangor-university-reform-uk-debating-society-ban",
  "publishedAt": "2026-02-10T09:22:38.000Z",
  "site": "https://www.gbnews.com",
  "tags": [
    "it announced a ban on Reform UK representatives",
    "JK Rowling fumes ‘Starmer OUT’ as she blasts PM over Mandelson conduct and grooming gangs stance",
    "Patrick Christys melts hearts as he shares baby George's reaction to Emily Carver's GB News return",
    "Lady Gaga speaks out on surprise Super Bowl cameo as she pens statement amid Bad Bunny backlash",
    "@bangor_staff",
    "https://t.co/WJ74vM70ul",
    "February 9, 2026",
    "pic.twitter.com/piUPlBzEcY",
    "February 9, 2026",
    "The GB News Editorial Charter",
    "@bangor_staff.",
    "@beverleyturner",
    "@ColoradoStateU...",
    "@ZiaYusufUK"
  ],
  "textContent": "\n\n\nBev Turner has branded members of the Bangor University debating society as \"small-minded\" and \"petulant\" after it announced a ban on Reform UK representatives on its campus.\n\nThe uproar occurred after the Bangor Debating and Political Society turned down a request for Sarah Pochin, who represents Runcorn and Helsby, to participate in a question-and-answer session with students.\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nThe student society, which operates independently through the Students' Union rather than the university itself, issued a statement explaining its refusal.\n\n\"We stand by this decision as a committee. We have zero tolerance for any form of racism, transphobia, or homophobia displayed by the members of Reform UK,\" the society declared.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nTRENDING\n\nStories\n\nVideos\n\nYour Say\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nThe group added that Reform's \"approach to the lives of others is antithetical to the values of welcoming and fair debate that our society has upheld for 177 years.\"\n\nEstablished in 1849, the Bangor Debating and Political Society describes itself as Wales's oldest student organisation and a home for those who wish to \"challenge ideas, explore diverse perspectives, and master the art of persuasion.\"\n\nThe society expressed pride in being \"the first of the debating unions to take a stand against Reform UK\" and urged other university societies to follow suit in \"keeping hate out of our universities.\"\n\nThe decision has prompted fury from several free speech advocates, including the People's Channel's very own Bev.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nAddressing the society's decision on X, Bev penned: \"The most small-minded, petulant, unintelligent display of censorship from @bangor_staff.\n\n\"I despair for our next generation. These so-called academics cast silence as progress and detachment from debate as strength.\n\n\"If they are so confident of their position, they should welcome the chance to win that debate!!\"\n\nThe Late Show host soon followed her initial statement with a second update that took aim at the broader attitude of British students who want to shut down freedom of speech and debate.\n\n### LATEST DEVELOPMENTS\n\n\n\n\n  * JK Rowling fumes ‘Starmer OUT’ as she blasts PM over Mandelson conduct and grooming gangs stance\n  * Patrick Christys melts hearts as he shares baby George's reaction to Emily Carver's GB News return\n  * Lady Gaga speaks out on surprise Super Bowl cameo as she pens statement amid Bad Bunny backlash\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n> The most small-minded, petulant, unintelligent display of censorship from @bangor_staff.\n>\n> I despair for our next generation.\n>\n> These so-called academics cast silence as progress and detachment from debate as strength.\n>\n> If they are so confident of their position, they should… https://t.co/WJ74vM70ul\n>\n> — Bev Turner (@beverleyturner) February 9, 2026\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nBev shared an image of a notice board which had been digitally altered from Colorado State University that read: \"If you (or someone you know) are affected by a free speech event on campus, call your parents and ask them to come and take you home. You're not ready for university yet.\"\n\nThe GB News star reacted: \"If this is genuine @ColoradoStateU... I love you. Please take more British students. We need help!\" (sic)\n\nSadly for Bev, the noticeboard in the image has been altered.\n\nIt isn't just Bev who has taken exception to the Bangor Debating and Political Society's decision. Reform UK's head of policy, Zia Yusuf, has warned the university could lose £30 million in annual state funding under a future Reform government.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nMr Yusuf posted on social media: \"Bangor University have banned Reform and called us 'racist, transphobic and homophobic'.\n\n\"Bangor receives £30 million in state funding a year, much of which comes from Reform-voting taxpayers. I am sure they won't mind losing every penny of that state funding under a Reform government.\n\n\"After all, they wouldn't want a racist's money, would they?\" he sarcastically signed off.\n\nBangor University has moved swiftly to distance itself from the controversy, emphasising that the decision was made by an independent student group rather than the institution.\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n> Bangor University have banned Reform and called us “racist, transphobic and homophobic”.\n>\n> Bangor receives £30 million in state funding a year, much of which comes from Reform-voting taxpayers.\n>\n> I am sure they won’t mind losing every penny of that state funding under a Reform… pic.twitter.com/piUPlBzEcY\n>\n> — Zia Yusuf (@ZiaYusufUK) February 9, 2026\n\nA university spokesperson stated: \"The social media post was issued by a student society and not by Bangor University. Student societies are created and run by students through the independent Students' Union.\"\n\nThe spokesperson added: \"The views expressed by societies are their own and do not reflect University policy.\n\n\"Bangor University remains politically neutral and supports freedom of speech. Bangor University welcomes debate from across the political spectrum.\"\n\nLabour MP Claire Hughes, who represents Bangor Aberconwy, criticised Mr Yusuf's response, accusing him of \"issuing threats\" simply because \"a debating society turned them down.\"\n\nShe added: \"Reform offer nothing but division. We will fight them all the way.\"\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n**Our Standards:The GB News Editorial Charter **",
  "title": "Bev Turner lets rip on 'small-minded censorship' of university debating society as she blasts Reform UK campus ban"
}