‘Absurd’ Williamson schooled as he wades into row over Oxford students’ removal of Queen’s portrait

Oxford University students were told off by education minister Gavin Williamson after they took down a portrait of the Queen.

It comes as some students believe the picture represents “recent colonial history”.

The Magdalen College Middle Common Room print was put up in 2013, but a democratic vote was reportedly held by postgraduate students to remove it.

In a tweet, 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 UK. During her long reign she has worked tirelessly to promote British values of tolerance, inclusivity and respect around the world”.

Reactions

LBC’s James O’ Brien said: “Well said, champ. Now go and get the guys who lied to her and unlawfully prorogued Parliament.” Right-wing political website Guido Fawkes labelled the students “woke”, and right-wing tabloids the Daily Express and the Daily Mail went into meltdown over the move.

Piers Morgan said: “These woke lunatics are beyond parody.

“Can we vote to have Monarch-ordered Tower of London imprisonment powers restored for these insolent wastrels?”

One Twitter user said: “Williamson lives in Tory dreamland (everyone else’s nightmare).

“The UK is nothing like inclusive or tolerant, it never was. This Conservative government is not respected at home, less around the world.”

Alec Maguire said: “Weird, the enforced teaching of ‘British values’ at schools includes democracy. Where does a monarchy fit into that?”

“If Oxford wants that cash they’ll take the picture down. You seem to forget that foreigners power your powerful schools. You don’t have any sense Gavin,” another Twitter user said.

And Simon William Cree said: “Gavin is going to absolutely lose his shit when he goes round to other people’s houses now he can, finding out none of us have portraits of the Queen!”

Tom Grace said: “Calling this ‘absurd’ is one of the most absurd things I’ve read in a long sad history of an absurdist government.”

And Jude Seal chipped in: “This is the same Education Secretary who claims to be a champion of free speech complaining that students took a democratic vote.

“It appears he only approves of free speech and democracy when it benefits him or aligns with his views. Interesting.”

One Twitter user said: “Telling that you think living a life of huge wealth, privilege and status through an accident of birth rather than any personal merit or hard work represents what you think is best about the UK.”

“Did you know that Boris Johnnson set the Queen’s head on fire?, another user asked. “He burnt £50 notes in front of homeless people. For fun,” he added.

“I’ll tell you what’s absurd…. Putting people through THREE lockdowns and then, delaying the end of restrictions due to your incompetence. Let’s start there,” one of the tweets read.

Andra Maciuca

Andra is a multilingual, award-winning NQJ senior journalist and the UK’s first Romanian representing co-nationals in Britain and reporting on EU citizens for national news. She is interested in UK, EU and Eastern European affairs, EU citizens in the UK, British citizens in the EU, environmental reporting, ethical consumerism and corporate social responsibility. She has contributed articles to VICE, Ethical Consumer and The New European and likes writing poetry, singing, songwriting and playing instruments. She studied Journalism at the University of Sheffield and has a Masters in International Business and Management from the University of Manchester. Follow her on: