Education Minister Nadhim Zahawi had to be escorted from a university campus by security forces after being verbally abused by LGBT+ protesters.
The Conservative MP for Stratford-upon-Avon was at the University of Warwick on Friday to address the university’s Conservative Association.
Members of the university’s Warwick Pride group outside shouted “Tory scum” and waved flags and placards.
The group protested Mr Zahawi’s comments.
A protester struck a member of the Conservative Association in the head, the Telegraph reported, but they were not injured while the minister was led away by campus security forces.
In a statement ahead of the lecture, Warwick Pride referred to comments by the education secretary in support of a professor accused of transphobia for her views on gender identity.
Philosophy professor Kathleen Stock has been criticized for her views on trans rights and resigned from her post at the University of Sussex after protests.
She has firmly denied claims of transphobia, while the minister previously said it was “unacceptable for a scientist of her caliber to be chased out of the university”.
- Free Speech Professor Kathleen Stock: Protests like nightmares
- University of Sussex supports professor in fight over freedom of expression
- Listen: Kathleen Stock on the sex, gender and equality debate
Warwick Pride said Mr Zahawi “plays a significant role in institutional transphobia” as Minister for Education.
They cited his role alongside the Equality and Human Rights Commission to create guidelines for teachers’ dealings with transgender students.
The university’s conservative association said it supports people’s freedom to express their opinions and said it was a “shame” that the protesters had prevented Mr Zahawi from “voicing his”.
The Ministry of Education has been asked for a response.
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