Dozens of Members of Parliament, academics, and campaigners have called for the cancellation of a planned event featuring Nathan Cofnas at Oxford University, citing concerns over his views on race and diversity. The talk, organised by the Oxford Universities’ Reform Society (OURS), is scheduled for November 17 at Oriel College’s Harris lecture hall under the title “An evening with Nathan Cofnas: Is DEI undermining higher education?”
The event has drawn widespread criticism, including from prominent politicians such as Diane Abbott, Bell Ribeiro-Addy, Afua Hirsch, and Gary Younge. Signatories of an open letter, supported by groups including Stand Up to Racism and Black Lives Matter UK, argue that while academic freedom is important, it must not undermine obligations under the Equality Act 2010 and the responsibility to ensure the safety and welfare of Black students and staff on campus.
The controversy centers on Cofnas’s status as a self-described “race realist” who has argued that genetics play a role in racial differences in intelligence, a position widely rejected by contemporary genetics and regarded as scientific racism. The letter highlights Cofnas’s public questioning of the appointment of Professor Jason Arday, Cambridge’s youngest-ever Black professor, who died in August following allegations of plagiarism that arose after Cofnas published a critical blog post.
Signatories called on Oriel College to either cancel the event or postpone it until a full risk assessment is published outlining measures to safeguard Black students and staff. They also urged commissioning an independent review of the decision to host the event. The letter states: “Cofnas is not simply a critic of diversity policy. He has claimed that in a meritocracy ‘the number of black professors would approach 0 per cent’ and questioned whether Cambridge believed ‘the only way to have black professors is to abandon all standards.’”
The campaigners warn that giving Cofnas a platform under the university’s authority risks amplifying racist ideas beyond the lecture theatre, influencing social media and political discourse. The open letter was signed by a range of figures including former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, singer Beverley Knight, MP Nadia Whittome, actors such as Zawe Ashton, and academics including Professor Elleke Boehmer and Professor Robert Gildea.
This call for cancellation follows a separate appeal from various Oxford alumni, academics, and student groups that urged Oriel College to withdraw its facilities for the event. Organisers have yet to announce any changes or responses to the mounting opposition.