Oxford Union alumni will descend on city to try to oust president-elect

[BonfireLady]

Well, that's quite a turn up for the free speech books!

When the president-elect of the Oxford Union debating society hit the headlines with his awful celebration of a violent assassination, I hoped that he would be declared unfit to run it. Yes, I support free speech, including the right to offend. However, he is president-elect of a debating society and is simply not fit for the role if he's advocating assassination in place of debate. Charlie Kirk was killed while debating. Specifically while answering a question about trans(-identifying) people, by a young man who is/was in a romantic relationship with a (transwo)man.

It seems like this university is waking up to the idea that critical thinking is a good thing. Please keep thinking Oxford Union...... 🤞

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/10/14/oxford-union-alumni-descend-city-oust-president-elect/

He's written quite a lengthy statement and this was included:

When a national columnist explicitly calls for you to be shot, and your family receives threats, it creates an environment where reasoned debate cannot exist.

Obviously it's appalling that his family received threats but which national columnist explicitly called for him to be shot? Does anyone know? That sounds rather far-fetched and I would hope that this isn't what happened.

Edited for clarity.

This really is quite the shit show.

I can't decide if this is his way of fighting the establishment (through disruption and chaos) or if he genuinely believes he'd be a good president. Either way, if the vote goes in his favour, I can't see this debating society having any credibility left.

The only thing that makes me think this isn't actually some sort of master plan to bring down the union (why? What for? Why does he hate it? If he hates elitism, why is he studying at Oxford Uni? The union is far less exclusive than the uni) is that he couldn't have foreseen Kirk's murder, so either he's a tactical genius and master opportunist or, as I suspect, he wants to be both elite and a rebel and now he's absolutely shitting himself that he's shown himself unworthy to be either.

Someone needs to pressure him to resign. It's best for everyone involved.

It is worth remembering that the officer in charge of counting votes is a full time student and Oxford workloads are very high. He may also be involved in other commitments (supporting new students etc.) as there isn't usually a vote at this time of year.

The current committee - who condemned George's actions - are between a rock and a hard place with the voting delay.

Whatever the cause if there is an official statement on social media as to the delay it will be picked up on mainstream media and cause them more negative publicity.

If they dont state it officially it will cause more negative social media. So I guess the strategy is try to resolve it asap.

@ThatCyanCat he might have formed some kind of anti-elitist view after joining

But it's no different than the extinction rebellion protesters driving to the protest in a huge car or leaving London littered with junk food cartons.

I remember one of the Plane Stupid protesters going to America not long after a disruptive protest at Heathrow.

One of the "no kings" idiots across the pond this weekend was wearing a T-shirt that says "make assassinations great again".

"no kings" is another example of disruption for the sake of disruption.

Oh ffs. Someone give him his bottle, change his nappy and get him out of here.

So basically, he didn’t realise proxy voting would be a thing, had confidence he had the numbers with the current cohort, and is now throwing a tantrum the alumni are getting in on the action.

It seems the reform of the disciplinary systems he’s after is ‘discipline for thee, not for me’ 🙄

Because this echoes the aggression aimed at feminists. People defending women's rights, eg to single-sex spaces, from transactivists. Let Women Speak events routinely come under physical attack. Venues where women planned to meet are ordered to cancel the booking or face violence. The hashtag "no debate" was coined to prevent women speaking up for our rights.

Opponents of women's rights are astonishingly and unashamedly open about their intention of silencing women who will not obey them.

Its also interesting to see this played out at the Oxford Union where we have seen activity in the past against GC speakers (Kathleen Stock and that silly glued-to-table TRA come to mind). Are things changing and for the worse or the better? This is a handy weather vane.

Also I doubt I am the only person here who is very concerned about calls for other 'anti-trans' figures to be attacked in the wake of Kirk's assassination. So I do hope that this vote - when we FINALLY have the numbers - will show that OU is not in favour of cheering on that kind of abuse when the chips are down and they have to live with consequences of activist tantrums themselves.

I hope (I am a hopeful sort) that the disciplinary processes at OU will be tightened rather than loosened after this fiasco. (I assume George wanted them loosening).

That seems to be the sum of it, and because the current president opened the vote up to proxy, Abaraonye has decided to try to take him down.

Its pathetic stuff, and the trustees may need to step in to restore some order and to stop the union hemorrhaging more money.

@EmeraldRoulette I agree with all your posts. It is quite clear there is an element of the radical left who seek to destroy societal structures/organisations/norms, so they’re able to seize power & usher in their own ideas in place. It is constant and unremitting and has been for decades, only recently really gaining traction though - trans, queering, drag queen story time, all that crap is part of it. However it does sound a little conspiracy theory-ish doesn’t it? Hence many sensible, emotionally stable people reject it.

Something similar exists on the libertarian Right and was the motivating force behind Move Fast and Break Things.

But this is the man who said that some institutions are like cancers and need to be taken down by any means necessary. It was in a debate, but he made a point of saying that he personally agreed with that - it wasn't just him playing his assigned role within the debate.

This isn't a little boy crying over spilt milk. This is high level strategy. If he truly didn't realise that alumni could vote, and I don't think that can be the case, then this would be a master stroke played at very short notice.

But I don't think it is. Proposing a vote of no confidence in yourself? That is a tactic. He will have looked very carefully at all possible outcomes, and he will certainly have looked at who's entitled to vote.

@Sequinsoneverythingplease yes I am surprised at how naive some people are.

I'm going to give the same example as I always use, so apologies if anybody's heard it before. The HSBC ad campaign "your DNA will be your data" got labelled as a conspiracy theory when thousands of commuters were going past those adverts every single day! One of my neighbours accuse me of being a conspiracy theorist when I was talking about it! She apparently heard it was a conspiracy from something on Facebook. Fortunately, some other neighbours had seen it. I saw her face when they confirmed it and she looked absolutely horrified. She just wanted to write me off as a nutter. Interestingly, I don't think she's ever worked.

I think some people just cannot bear to face the world as it actually is which is understandable, I suppose.

But also, they're lucky that they've never worked with these psychopaths - sorry should I say top strategists? I don't know if these people are just incredibly lucky but I remember reading "Snakes in Suits - psychopaths at work" when I was quite young and finding incredibly helpful. So I was about 30 when I read that and I wish somebody had given it to me before but it had not long been out.

So basically, he didn’t realise proxy voting would be a thing, had confidence he had the numbers with the current cohort, and is now throwing a tantrum the alumni are getting in on the action.

This. Put down the spade George. Step away from the hole.

@38thparallel such an ironic cross post with mine.

No the guys an idiot. This isn’t some top level strategist. Sure he probably has some smart friends who are scouring the loop holes. But really this is just egotistical delusion from George. Most people would stand down to save face and slink away. Think of the future, keep their dignity intact. He actually thinks he’s smart enough to get away with it. And even if he was smart enough to get away with it - he thinks that’s a good look?! That’s 100% ego and delusion.

Agree with this.

Also sounds to me like he’s got a gaggle/mob of fans, eager to do his bidding.

They are probs doing it for the lolz

Proposing a vote of no confidence in yourself? That is a tactic.
@EmeraldRoulette in doing that he was able to word the vote of no confidence as he wished. He put it in before the vote of no confidence could be put by someone else with - perhaps - more damaging wording than he chose.
He managed to present himself as a student who learned from mistakes and made a sincere apology. (It may have been sincere but it was not really an apology).

It’s funny you say that because I was just thinking about that. His ‘friends’ probably think this is jokes. A lot of fun to try to somehow twist the union vote and what risks are they taking. We won’t know their names, future employers won’t.

It is a bit sad for George because I understand he’s not from the typical Oxford background and I guarantee if any of his ‘friend’s had been in Georges shoes then their family would have put a foot down and said you need to stand down now. Disappear into the general melee of the union/ study and we will make this go away (ie. By getting you your first job and potentially a deed poll).

So yes whilst I think he’s a dick. And also think he does need to be made example of here. I don’t wish for his life to be ruined irreversibly. Which at this stage is now potentially happening. He clearly has no one to advise him about social standing and his ‘friends’ are practically using him as a toy and egging him on.

Update: Proxy voting also to be allowed for the president, Moosa Harraj.

https://x.com/adrian_hilton/status/1980356943366513114?s=46&t=ALGAiHxwK3XXeRoDQylnWA

The darling little freedom fighters were up all night chanting ‘This poll is not valid’ apparently:

https://x.com/abigailandwords/status/1980263190479990992?s=46&t=ALGAiHxwK3XXeRoDQylnWA

Although seems all is not lost at Oxford.

Someone in biology understands… biology. 🎉

https://x.com/jamesesses/status/1980298054105477172?s=46&t=ALGAiHxwK3XXeRoDQylnWA

Of course, they’ll be expelled if caught 🙄

I also need to now try and sort my algorithm out, or I’ll be an expert on all things Oxford this time next week 😁

Unfortunately some get a very very long way by being overconfident and self centred. Especially in politics.

I would also be very surprised if noone has tried to talk him into resigning, perhaps a college tutor or someone else on his course.

That said, most of this has been out of term time.

Oxford University isn't too bad for allowing gender critical theorists a platform. Helen Joyce was speaking there earlier this year and (though separate) was published by Oxford University Press. I've read some decent gender philosophy articles from Oxford philosophy academics.

Yes, I can see that, as this just popped up on my now ‘everything relates to Oxford’ timeline 🤣

https://x.com/comacfreedom/status/1980279008777396513?s=46&t=ALGAiHxwK3XXeRoDQylnWA

This is how it should be, universities are the last places that should be ‘safe spaces’

Of course, they’ll be expelled if caught 🙄

Sorry for repeated posts but I read through it and it is hilarious. They've offered "mediation" with the culprit sticking George Orwell quotes on the Progress Pride flag.

Misconduct is not up to the Biology department they would have to refer them to the University Proctors if they caught them - they date from the medieval times of town v gown and have their own academic dress. Couple of fellows from each college.

Also technically the term is "sent down". I can't imagine that happening...

Ah @GoldThumb embrace the "everything related to Oxford" and be an expert.

Maybe do a GC tour of Oxford.

R.e. terms if you get in trouble in College you get "deaned" - r.e. have to appear before the Dean (and often junior deans).

Aged 18 I thought it was such a great word it was one of my ambitions...met after a practical joke went slightly wrong...

A GC tour of Oxford sounds fab!

Intrigued what the practical joke was now…