STUDENTS at Salford University are calling for one of their classmates to be expelled after it emerged he is a leading member of the British National Party.
University bosses say they cannot exclude someone for their political beliefs, but now up to 600 students and their supporters have signed a petition calling for Tony Wentworth - chairman of the Young BNP movement - to be kicked out.
They say they are shocked and disgusted to find the 21-year-old has been studying politics at the university for six months.
"Tony Wentworth hates the fact that Salford University is a multi-cultural and multi-racial university," states the petition. "If he had his way Salford would be for whites only."
The petition goes on to call on vice chancellor Michael Harloe to expel Mr Wentworth.
Student activists - who formed the Salford United Against Racism alliance after finding out Mr Wentworth was a student - have already called for politics students to boycott lectures with the BNP member and for lecturers to refuse to teach him.
Makola Mayambika, chairperson of the students' union Afro-Caribbean society, has been among those collecting signatures in support of Mr Wentworth being expelled.
He said: "Our campaign is to expel him. We don't want people to have to study here in fear."
Mr Wentworth has sought the advice of BNP lawyers who, he says, have reassured him the university cannot exclude him because of his BNP membership.
He told the Manchester Evening News: "I do disapprove of multi-racial societies full stop. However, I am at Salford University just to get an education. In this country we have a right to freedom of speech and political opinions."
Student Chris Tavner, a member of the Anti Nazi League, said: "Everybody here feels threatened by his presence."
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I believe in freedom of speech, freedom of political beliefs and feedom to undertake a good education. However this one student jepordises all of these. Salford is a multi-racial uni and those who do not fit into his ideal are scared.
It is totally absurd to try and kick someone out of university for their political beliefs. I can't see this happening if a student was found to be a member of an extreme left-wing group. It is political correctness gone mad. I hate the BNP with avengence but starting all these protests makes it seems that people are afraid of their views. The BNP are an awful group but still have a legitimate right to say what they think. Defeat them by being tolerant and using reason rather than another form of hatred.
Look him in the eye, He is not to be feared. He is however allowed his opinion no matter how distasteful that may be.
Perhaps the university is the place he will eventuality get his education and join the real world. We can only hope!
For every thousand people coming in to this country - whether "legally" or illegally - that is another thousand people using electricity, gas, water, telephones, transport, etc, etc, and another thousand people buying or renting property, and buying TV's, video players, fridges, PC's, mobile phones , etc, etc, etc.That is what "immigration" is all about - ie the rich and powerful making themselves more rich and powerful. There is no other reason, despite what the establishment - the rich and powerful - and their newspapers (try to) dupe us into believing. Can anyone tell me of another reason which explains why we have several hundred thousand people a year coming in to the UK, or are we supposed to believe that someone just happened to have the bright idea fifty or so years ago, and for no particular reason, that we should let millions of people from other countries come and live here. It is one of the biggest cons in history, and millions of people are being duped and hoodwinked by the perpetraters whilst millions of others deeply resent what is happening to their country and their nationhood and national identity. Fomenting hatred is one thing, conning a whole nation (or trying to) is another. The big corporations and their shareholders are laughing their heads off (and have been for years) whilst they live their lives of luxury. The more the merrier as far as they are concerned!
Let him get his education. You never know, he may just learn some compassion and respect for the people he shares this country with.
I knew Tony before he left for Manchester and i can honestly say he is not a racist, just a young man who sticks up for his beliefs and speaks his mind. I personally do not vote at all so there for i have no prejudices. Let the boy get on with his life regardless of what his beliefs are!
As a British asian i think its no problem the guy being a BNP member he has a political opinion and has every right to express it that is the point of democracy , every one can state their view. You cannot deny someone of an education just because of their political beliefs and i dont know how one member of the BNP can be threatening to the whole campus . Infact i think all this fuss about the affair has given the BNP the much wanted media attention they always are looking for and this case has put them in good light as they have the right to say their freedom of speech is being imposed on.
Although I dont agree with this students viewpoint I do agree that he has the right to an education at any level. Just like anybody else does, hopefully one day his views will change a little, but if not so what he is after all ENTITLED to his beliefs and opinions and who has the right to tell him is opinions are wrong?
I personally believe that the BNP are small minded in their views and are eventually wasting their own time, and that Manchester City will one day soon win the league but thats just my opinion.
Mr Wentworth has every right to his opinion,there does not seem to be anyone questioning the marxist anti nazi leauge.
This really is quite a ridiculous reaction from the university students. Why should 600 students have the right to jeopardise another students education which he too has earnt the right too through exams etc simply on the grounds that they disapprove of his politics. What i also fail to see is why they feel threatened by one, yes one mans presence in the room. Grow up!!