The Box

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.

Cool Cookie

PANDORA was intrigued by Robin Cook's statement earlier this week at the launch of Panel 2000 to hype up Britain's overseas image. "The picture many have of us is out of date," Mr Cook said. "Some see us as we were 20 years ago, stuck in decline."

There's nothing wrong in identifying with your nation, but what happens when your nation is asked to identify with you? This is a question each of us may well ask as we look at this old photograph of Mr Cook. Pandora's believes that Robin's current image is definitely much cooler than it was in 1974.