WOKE JOKE
GAVIN Williamson has slammed the woke Oxford students who voted to REMOVE a portrait of the Queen from their college common room.
In a shocking move a committee of students in Magdalen college agreed the painting of Queen Elizabeth would be taken down because she "represents colonialism."
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Members of the committee bizarrely concluded that the portrait will now be replaced by “art by or of other influential and inspirational people.”
Now the Secretary of State for Education has given his opinion on the controversial move.
Williamson said: "Oxford University students removing a picture of the Queen is simply absurd.
"She is the Head of State and a symbol of what is best about the United Kingdom.
"She has worked to promote British values of tolerance, inclusivity & respect”
During the vote to remove the picture one student commented that “patriotism and colonialism are not really separable” .
While another added that the picture of Her Royal Highness must be ditched because “This is about our communal space and making people feel welcome”, according to .
And in the future if any pictures of the Queen or the Royal family are to be hung in the common it must be decided by a vote.
The decision has caused uproar among the university's royalists who believe cancel culture has taken a step too far.
According to the committee’s minutes, one opponent in the vote said: “In an era where debates on no-platforming and cancel culture rage strong, effectively 'cancelling' the Queen and brandishing her as a symbol of colonialism – so often used as a synonym for racism – sends a dire message that is sure to enrage.
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“Moreover, it is culturally insensitive for a common room so heavily comprised of international students to seek to remove a national symbol from a British institution.
“The cultural heritage of all nations has the right to be respected, and a common room that does not do so cannot claim to be inclusive.”
President of Magdalen College Dinah Rose wrote on Twitter: “Here are some facts about Magdalen College and HM the Queen.
“The Middle Common Room is an organisation of graduate students. They don't represent the College.
“A few years ago, in about 2013, they bought a print of a photo of the Queen to decorate their common room.
“They recently voted to take it down.
“Both of these decisions are their own to take, not the College's.
“Magdalen strongly supports free speech and political debate, and the MCR'S right to autonomy.”
Matthew Katzman, the MCR committee president, told The Times: "The action was taken after a discussion of the purpose of such a space, and it was decided that the room should be a welcoming, neutral place for all members, regardless of background, demographic or views.”
Now celebrities and royal fans have taken to social media to give their two cents on the decision.
Ex-Good Morning Britan host Piers Morgan writer on Twitter: “FFS. These woke lunatics are beyond parody.
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“Can we vote to have Monarch-ordered Tower of London imprisonment powers restored for these insolent wastrels?”
Meanwhile Lord Patten said: "Freedom of speech allows even intelligent people to be offensive and obnoxiously ignorant.
"I hope it does not do too much damage to the reputation of the college. I am sure old members of the college will try to be charitable in their assessment."
While Sir John Hayes, chairman of the Common Sense Group of Conservative MPs, said: “The sad thing is that you would think that the people of Magdalen College Oxford are reasonably bright, and this decision would suggest that they are not.
“The Queen is the head of the Commonwealth and respected across the world as such, and to try to suggest anything otherwise is a dishonest distortion. The people involved should be thoroughly ashamed of themselves.”
It comes after a university was forced to apologise for their tribute to Prince Philip after staff complained about the Duke's "racist and sexist comments."
Woke staff at King's College London were outraged at an email bulletin following the Duke’s death in April - which showed a picture of him opening a university library in 2002.
After the Duke’s death earlier this year, the university’s interim principal, Professor Evelyn Welch, issued a public statement praising his "long and valued association with King’s."
Prince Philip had been a governor at the university since 1955 - and had visited the official opening of one of the libraries in 2002.
But staff members were outraged after being sent the picture of the Duke visiting the Maughan Library.
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The university's anti-racism group complained that the email caused "harm" because the Prince had made a number of racist and sexist comments in his lifetime.
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Following weeks of tension, Joleen Clarke, the associate director at King’s College libraries, sent out an apology.
The Sun has approached Magdalen College for comment.
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