A children's charity has condemned a "disturbing" decision to invite disgraced comedian Chris Langham to talk at the Oxford Union.
Langham, who was jailed for downloading child pornography, accepted an invitation to talk about his life and career at the world famous debating chamber in Frewin Court on Tuesday, May 27.
The Bafta award winning star of The Thick Of It was released from prison in November, after serving three-and-a-half months of a 10 month sentence for 15 offences of downloading indecent images of children.
He was snared by police's anti-child abuse initiative Operation Ore after downloading images of children as young as eight. Some of the pictures were graded as level five - the most serious and degrading category.
Claude Knights, director of charity Kidscape, said she was concerned about the message sent out by the union's decision.
She said: "We do not feel we have the right to call for his withdrawal - everyone has the right to free speech - but we are disappointed, and it does reflect badly on the union.
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"We are very concerned that so soon after someone has been convicted of these crimes they have been given a platform.
"I do not know why the Oxford Union feels this is appropriate - it's disturbing."
The Oxford Union attracted headlines in November, when it invited British National Party leader Nick Griffin and holocaust denier David Irving to speak in a debate about free speech.
About 1,000 demonstrators gathered at the union to protest.
Other guest speakers lined up for future talks at the chamber include Spice Girl Geri Halliwell, Conservative Party leader David Cameron, and actor Shaun Williamson - best known for playing Barry in TV soap EastEnders.
Ben Glazer, press officer for the union, said Langham would discuss his career before taking questions from the students.
He said: "We don't see there is any problem inviting him. He is a very successful comedy actor and should be very interesting.
"He has served his time, he has paid the price for his crimes and I am sure he wants to put that behind him and concentrate on his career."
Would Langham have been invited if it were not for his notoriety? I doubt it. The current crop of Union officers seem to see their role as raising the profile of the Union by any menas necessary. I see a great future for them in gutter journalism.
Would Langham have been invited if it were not for his notoriety? I doubt it. The current crop of Union officers seem to see their role as raising the profile of the Union by any menas necessary. I see a great future for them in gutter journalism.
Totally agree. There are plenty of hard working tax fiddling drug users out there who should be allowed a platform to promote Crack use.
As the Independent made clear, drugs affect nobody apart from the individual. I mean all those people in Mayfair sharing Crack pipes, they don't use the NHS and don't steal to fund their addictions so where's the social harm?
The state should have no right to dictate what somebody does in private apart from scum like this of course.
I agree with Dickie Dawkins rational position: string him up!!
Totally agree. There are plenty of hard working tax fiddling drug users out there who should be allowed a platform to promote Crack use.
As the Independent made clear, drugs affect nobody apart from the individual. I mean all those people in Mayfair sharing Crack pipes, they don't use the NHS and don't steal to fund their addictions so where's the social harm?
The state should have no right to dictate what somebody does in private apart from scum like this of course.
I agree with Dickie Dawkins rational position: string him up!!
Yes. Him and those sellers of mini kites and silks that inhabit Cornmarket street every now and again.
That bagpiper too. Gosh aren't us Dawkins groupies enlightened and tolerant, eh?
Yes. Him and those sellers of mini kites and silks that inhabit Cornmarket street every now and again.
That bagpiper too. Gosh aren't us Dawkins groupies enlightened and tolerant, eh?
Posted by: Cooky, Kent., UK on 4:58am Sat 19 Apr 08
Question: Would you trust Langham with your 13-year-old daughter?
There can be NO excuse for looking at and downloading child abuse images. One worrying but common feature is the tendency for people involved in this to strongly deny they are paedophiles. They might be fooling themselves but they don't fool me.
Well done Oxford Uni. Last year you wanted the leader of the BNP, this year a convicted sex offender. Which evil character will you ask next year in order to gain a bit of cheap publicity? Robert Mugabe might have free time by then?
Question: Would you trust Langham with your 13-year-old daughter?
There can be NO excuse for looking at and downloading child abuse images. One worrying but common feature is the tendency for people involved in this to strongly deny they are paedophiles. They might be fooling themselves but they don't fool me.
Well done Oxford Uni. Last year you wanted the leader of the BNP, this year a convicted sex offender. Which evil character will you ask next year in order to gain a bit of cheap publicity? Robert Mugabe might have free time by then?
Posted by: Fred Jones, London & Leicester on 8:05am Sat 19 Apr 08
Claude Knights, director of charity Kidscape, said: "...everyone has the right to free speech.." - I wonder if she would say that on behalf of Nick Griffin and the BNP?
Claude Knights, director of charity Kidscape, said: "...everyone has the right to free speech.." - I wonder if she would say that on behalf of Nick Griffin and the BNP?
Posted by: melanie, oxford on 3:41pm Sun 20 Apr 08
The Oxford Union is an embarrassment to the University and someone should step in to stop this disgrace. Surely the Oxford Union is not so short of speakers that it plunders the depths of humanity for a convicted paedophile? They have well and truly crossed the line this time. Mr Langham may well have served the time given for his despicable offences, but no second chances or public platforms should be given to anyone who thinks it is acceptable to look at pictures of children being abused. There is no possible justification for it. Mr Langham may not have actually touched a child, but he has contributed to the perpetration of the sick and vile market for this material. He would do well to keep a very low profile for the rest of his days.
The Oxford Union is an embarrassment to the University and someone should step in to stop this disgrace. Surely the Oxford Union is not so short of speakers that it plunders the depths of humanity for a convicted paedophile? They have well and truly crossed the line this time. Mr Langham may well have served the time given for his despicable offences, but no second chances or public platforms should be given to anyone who thinks it is acceptable to look at pictures of children being abused. There is no possible justification for it. Mr Langham may not have actually touched a child, but he has contributed to the perpetration of the sick and vile market for this material. He would do well to keep a very low profile for the rest of his days.
Well Done the most Educated of people in Oxford have just shamned themselves and the good people of this City by bringing in someone as vile as this man is...I have suffered a 2yr police investigagtion and court because of someone who did do the same as langham but also went futher than langham and did touch my child,Due to langhams well publisised court case the person who did the dispicable things then tried to use the same lame excuse as Langhame did in his trial, "That he accidently down loaded these pictures off the net" he is now waiting for his sentence to be passed.
I am only Glad to be leaving this city after what I have now seen from the so called Oxfords finest.
Well Done the most Educated of people in Oxford have just shamned themselves and the good people of this City by bringing in someone as vile as this man is...I have suffered a 2yr police investigagtion and court because of someone who did do the same as langham but also went futher than langham and did touch my child,Due to langhams well publisised court case the person who did the dispicable things then tried to use the same lame excuse as Langhame did in his trial, "That he accidently down loaded these pictures off the net" he is now waiting for his sentence to be passed.
I am only Glad to be leaving this city after what I have now seen from the so called Oxfords finest.
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