How the Oxford Union lost its way

The Oxford Union has made the national press twice in recent weeks, both for unflattering reasons. First, there were allegations of computer hacking, sexism and blackmail in the termly elections, and, secondly, an incautious Twitter invitation to EDL leader Tommy Robinson sparked an angry backlash from students and the group Unite Against Fascism. For a society that has produced multiple 20^th century prime ministers, and breeds Tory MPs like a Thatcherite rabbit, these are troubling times.

The Union describes itself as the "world's most prestigious debating society", and with its roster of past-speakers (which include Churchill, Einstein, Mother Theresa and Kermit the Frog) it’s hard to argue with that. But the speakers are really just there to sell memberships—which cost a prohibitive £229—while the Union serves a secondary, and more important, purpose: allowing future ministers and corporate bigwigs to play at politics.

The committee-based hierarchy of the Union is designed to replicate the circles of UK politics; secretary’s committee is the young backbenchers, while the officers represent the president’s trusted advisors. The bitter fighting over positions like librarian and treasurer must seem crazy to an outsider, but the reality of these roles means that what the scrapping is actually for is the opportunity to become closely involved with famous names and companies offering sponsorship. It’s the perfect training for years of getting suckered by lobbyists.

This democratic institution, with its focus on white tie and Prosecco, has not done a great PR job recently. Like its former president Boris Johnson, the Union has a tendency to blunder, and the ship has run aground on two of its favourite issues. Inviting a speaker like Tommy Robinson to a debate on nationalism is hardly the first time the Union has courted a controversial personality. The same thing happened with an invite in January to Nick Griffin—the member of "Seccies" who was disciplined for that invite now holds an officership. A great lesson learned about how to conduct yourself in politics.

According to Oxford-based think tank 80,000 Hours, Union presidents have a one-in-three chance of going on to become an MP. The current president is the nephew of a former prime minister of Thailand, and has a Facebook fan page with over 6,000 likes. In an environment that is so thoroughly dominated by the rich, successful and powerful, it's no surprise that it breeds egos and, with them, intense factionalism.

In 1977 current attorney general Dominic Grieve is alleged, along with a group of fellow Oxford students, to have thrown Damien Green, the current police and criminal justice minister, from a bridge into a foot and a half of water. The alleged incident was sparked by a row during the Union elections, but the tale was lost to the archives of student newspaper Cherwell for 35 years, and neither man’s political careers suffered as a result.

One wonders whether the same luxury is available these days. Last month’s elections saw the total implosion of a couple of Union high-ups’ election chances, after serious allegations were made about them. The possibility of their names staying buried in a musty filing cabinet long enough for them to reach the House of Commons seems unlikely.

Does this represent a shift in the way that British politics will perceive the Oxford Union? Well, hopefully.

Senior politicians will continue to be Oxford educated, such is the nature of our elitist education system, but what they choose to do with their time at the university needs to be more carefully considered. The Oxford Union is no longer a training ground for future politicians, it is now a playground for anachronistic self-promoters; many of whom will still come out the other side with prominent careers and gargantuan paychecks.

But the reckless port-fuelled party of the past is over, and the new Oxford Union must recognise that its reputation as a debating society needs a lot of renovation.