DEBATE DEBASED BY DOPE

Civilised men and women may wish to think twice before accepting any
invitation from the National Union of Students in future.

On Wednesday evening, at the NUS's annual convention in Blackpool's Winter
Gardens, a debate on the legalisation of cannabis was held in which two of
the featured participants were Howard Marks, the patron saint of dope, and
Peter Hitchens, outspoken conservative Express columnist. The evening ended
in a riot, with a Blackpool police in body armour called to quell an
outraged crowd that was literally baying for Mr Hitchens' blood.

According to Stuart Jackson, a student journalist at the event, many in the
crowd had been drinking heavily and the core protesters were members of an
activist lesbian-gay-bisexual group. Mr Hitchens' opening statement went:
"According to your categories, I am a reactionary sexist homophobic and an
ex-Trotskyist...what is even worse, I am proud of it." He was booed by
some, then interrupted by three women shouting "Fascist" who had to be
removed by security guards.

By all accounts, the debate then settled down into a very lively,
entertaining and provocative encounter. "One of the best debates I've heard
on cannabis legalisation," Mr Hitchens said later. Unfortunately, before
its conclusion one Douglas Trainer, president of the NUS, arrived on stage
and ordered Hitchens to leave the platform for being in violation of NUS
statutes against sexism and homophobia. "If he's going, I'm going too,"
declared a truly libertarian Mr Marks, who put his arm around Mr Hitchens
and helped him through a throng of emboldened protesters. Punches and
rubbish were thrown but, happily, Mr Hitchens was unhurt. In fact, the next
day he told Pandora that he was far more shocked by the curtailment of his
freedom of speech than he was worried about the angry mob. "I've been in
very frightening situations in my career, but I just did not feel it
there," he said.

According to other witnesses, however, it was a nasty scene outside the
room where he was hiding with Mr Marks and others. Finally, once the police
had convinced Mr Hitchens to leave, Mr Trainer addressed the crowd and
apologised profusely for ever having invited Mr Hitchens to speak.

Such good manners! Pandora would like to salute Mr Trainer, obviously a
bright new star in the firmament of political correctness. Doug, at the end
of the 20th century, it's not easy to set new standards in fascism but
you've done far more than just that. You've turned Peter Hitchens into a
victim.