Right-wing author is banned from Islam talk

A right-wing writer has been banned from chairing a debate on Islam at the London School of Economics today amid security fears, the Standard has learned.

Douglas Murray, a self-confessed "neo conservative", was due to chair "Islam or Liberalism: Which is the Way Forward?" at the university tonight — 24 hours after the end of a week-long sit in at LSE in protest at Israel's attacks on Gaza.

The commentator and author, who is the director of conservative think-tank the Centre for Social Cohesion, said: "This is back to the bad old days of the LSE — where the most violent get to dictate people's education. It is worse than censorship — it's intimidation." The debate, which is set to go ahead, is between Dr Alan Sked, a senior lecturer in international history at the university, and Hamza Andreas Tzortzis, a Muslim writer and lecturer.

The LSE asked Mr Murray not to attend in the interest of public safety as his presence could provoke further unrest. A spokesman added: "He has spoken at LSE in the past and will be welcome to do so again in the future."