Protesters gathered outside the Oxford Union on the evening of Wednesday 10 June to protest right-wing presenter and writer Matt Goodwin’s speech. This came a week in advance of the Society’s debate featuring Tommy Robinson on 17 June.
Protesters chanted “Shame on the Union” and “Do not platform fascists,” criticising the Union’s decision to host Goodwin on the motion: “This House Believes Reform is Fit to Govern.”
The protest was organised by Oxford Stand Up to Racism, who wrote on Instagram that Goodwin “pushes the racist Great Replacement Theory that white Europeans will be replaced by immigrants with black or brown skin” and advocates for “white women in Europe [being] punished financially if they fail to have enough babies while they’re young.”
Shortly before Goodwin entered the Chamber, his X account posted a photograph of him smiling and standing in front of the protest.
Goodwin is associated with Reform UK and was appointed honorary president of Students4Reform, Reform UK’s student wing, in November 2025. He has argued that people from minority ethnic backgrounds born and raised in the UK are not necessarily British.
In March 2026, he published Suicide of a Nation: Immigration, Islam, Identity, which argues that Britain is “committing national suicide” and claims that “a people are losing their own country” through mass immigration, Islam, and censorship.
A protester, who wished to be identified as ‘Lucy’, told The Oxford Blue that she supported freedom of speech and dialogue “in principle,” but accused the Union of showing “disgraceful bias” in the speakers it chose to platform. She said the society was being “naive” if it believed the consequences of the debate would remain contained inside the chamber.
Inside the Chamber, Matt Goodwin argued that Reform understood the need for “national preference” and that Britain would not survive unless it prioritised “its own citizens.” He alleged that “anti-white racism” existed in schools and policing, and said British people were “being treated like second-class citizens.” Goodwin also called for an end to “low-wage immigration” and to social housing subsidies for people who were not British-born.
His repeated references to “our people” and “the British people” prompted an objection from the floor by a person of colour, who stood up and asked what he meant by those phrases.
Goodwin responded, “nationalists,” and argued that immigration policy should require migrants to make a strong economic contribution and have a clean criminal record to “build the foundation of a strong nation state.”
“Reform governs, and if it does not govern, Lord knows where Britain will end up,” he contended.
This Wednesday, far-right activist Robinson participated in a postponed debate on the motion: “This House Believes the West is right to be Suspicious of Islam.”
The address has prompted increased security measures. According to the Oxford City Council, protests were expected in and around St Michael’s Street, and thus various streets were closed, including St Michael’s Street from 16:00 onward. Thames Valley Police have also confirmed a significant police presence in the area beginning 15:30.
A coalition of two dozen political and activist groups and organisations from across Oxford have encouraged people to come to the Oxford Union and “resist fascism,” at 18:30 on the 17 June.
Likewise, in an Instagram post, @oxfordresists stated: “Oxford will stand united against fascists and institutions that platform and legitimise them.”
Matt Goodwin and The Oxford Union were approached for comment.