AMBER Rudd has torn into Oxford University students after they no-platformed her with just half-an-hour’s notice.
The former cabinet minister had a scheduled appearance at an International Women’s Day event, only to be ditched last minute.
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Students blocked her from appearing because of her role in the Windrush scandal and the policies she supported in Government.
Ms Rudd called on students to “stop hiding and start engaging” and hit out at the decision.
She tweeted: “Badly judged & rude of some students last night at Oxford to decide to ‘no platform’ me 30 mins before an event I had been invited to for #IWD2020 to encourage young women into politics.
“They should stop hiding and start engaging. #FreeSpeech”
Ms Rudd’s daughter Flora Gill branded the move “f****** rude”.
She said: “Mum doesnt need the platform and travelled to talk for FREE for International Womens Day-proceeds to FGM charity.
“I don’t care if you disagree with her. Its f****** rude. This is NOT how women should treat each other.”
Tory MP Jacob Rees-Mogg also laid into the last-minute cancellation.
He tweeted: “Free speech is the bedrock of a democracy and Oxford University ought to lead the way rather than being snowflake central.”
Former Chancellor George Osborn also waded in, tweeting: “‘No platforming’ one of the most senior female politicians of our generation at an International Women’s Day event just makes the Oxford students involved look stupid & small-minded,the very opposite of what that great university stands for.”
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It came after a student accused Ms Rudd of “exacerbating racial and class tensions” and having taken “consistently deleterious actions towards vulnerable communities”.
An hour before the event was due to start, Oxford University’s UN Women society posted on Facebook: “Following a majority vote in committee, tonight’s event with speaker Amber Rudd has been cancelled.
“We are deeply sorry for all and any hurt caused to our members and other wom*n and non binary people in Oxford over this event.”
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