BNP members working in higher education institutions

Commenting on recent reports that a number of higher education lecturers have been named as members of the British National Party (BNP), Chief Executive of Equality Challenge Unit, Nicola Dandridge said:

'Higher education institutions were established to be places of free debate allowing the interchange of ideas. Indeed the promotion of free speech and enquiry retains special legal status within the higher education sector.

Although Equality Challenge Unit deplores the aims and objectives of the BNP, the primacy of freedom of speech is fundamental and should be upheld even if the views expressed are widely regarded as offensive.

However, universities also have social and legal obligations to promote good race relations on campus. It is hard to see how institutions can reconcile their duty to promote good race relations with staff being members of the BNP.

This is particularly the case in relation to staff who have contact with students. Institutions may therefore consider that it is inappropriate for BNP members to have teaching and/or pastoral responsibilities, or other direct contact with students.'

Further guidance

Universities UK, Guild HE and ECU have produced joint guidance on how to respond to extremism on campus:

Promoting good campus relations: dealing with hate crimes and intolerance (2005)

Promoting good campus relations: update (2007)

Promoting good campus relations: briefing for heads of institutions (2007)