Oxford

Ahead of Tommy Robinson’s appearance at the Oxford Union last night, the city was expecting unrest. Anticipating protests outside the venue, nearby establishments closed from mid-afternoon, with one pub claiming it was necessary to “ensure the safety” of staff and customers. Thames Valley Police closed surrounding streets, and the University’s colleges issued warnings urging extra vigilance as students moved around the city.

Robinson was set to debate the motion “This house believes the West is right to be suspicious of Islam”, with other speakers including former Tory minister Jacob Rees-Mogg and political activist Laurence Fox. Robinson was pictured outside the Union’s main entrance more than three hours before the event’s advertised start time of 8:30 pm. Security guards in dark suits hovered close behind.

Anti-Robinson protesters were numerous and well-organized, combining the forces of town and gown. Campus groups included Oxford Students Against Discrimination, while the effort was led by more established Left-wing organizations such as Stand Up to Racism. Some protesters linked arms to form a cordon that blocked most access to the Union. Thames Valley Police maintained a thin high-vis line separating the anti-Robinson contingent from a smaller group of counter-protesters, and with violence failing to materialize.

Union President Arwa Elrayess faced criticism across the city and the University for her decision to invite Robinson, and survived a motion of no confidence earlier this month. In a statement on Monday, Susan Brown, Leader of Oxford City Council, demanded that the Oxford Union “meet the full costs of staging their event”, which includes a police-security bill reported to reach £80,000. Such a task will be difficult to meet for an organization that, in the past year, has seen its finances ravaged by profligate spending, and its reputation rocked by controversies surrounding some of its officials’ political statements.

Elrayess proved to be an impassioned speaker on the opposition side last night, focusing on efforts by Muslims to oppose radicalism. In the end, the motion was defeated 33-30, with the total number of votes much smaller than usual for marquee events. Robinson was beaten — albeit narrowly — in the debate chamber, a sign that noisy protest isn’t always the best strategy.