STUDENTS at Durham University have staged a demonstration to protest a speech by a controversial columnist.

Rod Liddle had been invited by the principal of South College, Professor Tim Luckhurst, to address its Christmas formal on Friday evening.

Around a dozen students left before he began and others, offended by his “transphobic and racist” comments, followed.

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Professor Luckhurst, reportedly shouted “at South College, we value freedom of speech” and “pathetic” as they left.

Over 300 people attended the demonstration at South College on Wednesday, holding banners that read “Luckhurst out” and “Black Lives Matter”.

Durham University has said it is investigating the incident as “a matter of urgency”.

Mr Liddle has said that university students need to listen to views “that are contrary” to their own opinions, and that it was about “tolerance”.

Prof Tim Luckhurst, said Mr Liddle, who writes for The Spectator and The Times, was a “humourist”.

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