Emily Carver has taken to X to mock Bangor University after its student debating society refused a request from Reform UK to host a Q&A session on campus.
The controversy comes after Bangor’s oldest student society, founded in 1849, formally refused a request from Reform UK party members Jack Anderton and Sarah Pochin MP to attend the university.
The students cited a “zero tolerance” policy for racism, transphobia, and homophobia, which they allege is displayed by the party.
The society stated in a public letter: “Their approach to the lives of others is antithetical to the values of welcoming and fair debate that our society has upheld for 177 years.
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Emily Carver poked fun at the university online
| GB News"We are proud to be the first of the debating unions to take a stand against Reform UK and strongly implore our fellow societies to join us in keeping hate out of our universities.”
Emily was among many who criticised the decision, taking to social media to poke fun at the group thanks to previous debates it has welcomed.
The People's Channel presenter posted a photo of a poster from the Bangor Debating and Political Society, which read: “The debate you’ve all been waiting for... Is pegging gay?"
The poster highlighted that the debate would be taking place in the Greek Room of the university campus.
Reform UK advocate Jack Anderton has been banned from speaking at Bangor University campus
|Emily, 33, mocked the fact that the society would hold debates of this ilk but ban Reform UK party members. She captioned the post: “From the debating society that brought you…”
As well as Emily, Zia Yusuf, head of policy for Reform UK, condemned the society’s refusal, threatening to cut funding to the entire university if the party wins the next general election.
He said: “Bangor University has banned Reform and called us ‘racist, transphobic and homophobic’. Bangor receives £30 million in state funding a year, much of which comes from Reform-voting taxpayers."
He continued: "I am sure they won’t mind losing every penny of that state funding under a Reform government. After all, they wouldn’t want a racist’s money, would they?”
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Bangor University have banned Reform and called us “racist, transphobic and homophobic”.
— Zia Yusuf (@ZiaYusufUK) February 9, 2026
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… pic.twitter.com/piUPlBzEcY
The move has also drawn criticism from former Home Secretary Suella Braverman, who said: “Our once revered and world-class university system has been captured by left-wing ideologues who hate freedom of speech. Education needs Reform.”
Bangor city councillor Nick Pritchard added: “No one wants to debate. They’re too scared to see that there is some truth, and there’s no ability to debate it.”
GB News presenter Bev Turner also weighed in on the situation, posting on X: “The most small-minded, petulant, unintelligent display of censorship from @bangor_staff. I despair for our next generation."
She continued: "These so-called academics cast silence as progress and detachment from debate as strength. If they are so confident of their position, they should welcome the chance to win that debate!!”
Andrea Jenkyns
|GETTY
Bangor University has clarified that the student society operates independently and that the university remains politically neutral.
A spokesperson said: “The views expressed by societies are their own and do not reflect university policy. Bangor University remains politically neutral and supports freedom of speech. Bangor University welcomes debate from across the political spectrum.”
The university's controversial decision follows a string of other educational establishments in the UK that have taken similar action.
In 2020 The UN Women's Society at Oxford University faced backlash after refusing to platform former Home Secretary Amber Rudd, who was subsequently disinvited just 30 minutes before she was due to speak, following student pressure regarding her political record.
Reform UK Head of the UK Department of Government Efficiency Zia Yusuf and Party Leader Nigel Farage
|GETTY
Similarly, the University of Manchester's student union banned feminist speaker Julie Bindel from speaking on campus due to her views, which they deemed 'transphobic'.
Recent research from the Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI) suggests that “quiet” no-platforming is increasingly common, with societies avoiding controversial speakers due to fears of backlash, high security costs, or administrative hurdles, rather than formal bans.
Regulatory changes have sought to address these issues. The Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act 2023, which came into effect at many institutions in August 2025, imposes new legal duties on universities to protect freedom of speech for staff, students, and visiting speakers.