The president of a Reform UK university society has hit back at student protesters on campus, declaring his group is “standing up for free speech”.

Speaking to GB News, Dylan Caddick, who studies at the University of Sussex, criticised “Marxist lecturers and students” on campus and declared his university a “left-wing echo chamber”.

Protests by students are set to take place today at Sussex, as well as the University of Brighton, following the formation of the Students for Reform Society.

However, Sussex’s Pro-Vice Chancellor David Ruebain has defended the student group and said they are “required to uphold the law and that it stands for diversity in all its forms, including diversity of thought and belief”.

Speaking ahead of the protest, Mr Caddick told the People’s Channel: “The reason I’ve set this society up is because it’s been so important. In my three years in uni so far, my lecturers are all Marxists, all these students, it’s just a complete left-wing echo chamber. It’s been dominated by one voice.

“And so I thought this whole time we have to actually create some sort of opposition where people can actually feel comfortable to raise their opinions, because at university it needs to encourage people to actually speak up on what they believe in. But that goes for both sides.”

He argued: “So this free speech law is so important for us, it’s the only reason we’re actually allowed to do it. All these students, they’ve been calling for us to be banned and we’re not giving up.

“We want to keep fighting for this because they call us fascists, they are literally wanting us banned.

“They’ve used violence, death threats against us, and they’re literally carrying out these fascist actions against us, but we’re not standing for it. We stand up for free speech.”

Expanding more on the threats he and his society of students has received, Mr Caddick revealed: “Me and my committee, my members, we all just feel a lot of concerns about all of this.

“We’ve really tried to get some support, we’ve had a lot of national support so far, a lot of traction online.”

He added: “We’ve spoken to the university, they’ve put out a statement supporting us, our right to exist and condemning the violence with the Students Union.

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“So far, they’ve failed to condemn these violent comments which have called for us to be set on fire, beaten to death with hammers and all sorts. So we’re really just hoping some action can be taken.”

Speaking to local Reform supporter Archie Sheail, the student threw his support behind Mr Caddick’s society and vowed to “keep fighting the good fight” to prevent their society being banned.

He said: “We’re not going anywhere. We believe in freedom of speech, which they obviously don’t like.

“They’re trying to shut us down, and we’re going to keep fighting the good fight because we want to get our opinion out there.”

Defending Reform UK and leader Nigel Farage, he added: “We want to show that Reform aren’t these evil people they’re making out to be because it’s not true at all.

“We believe in freedom of speech, they don’t, it’s the other way around. They’re the ones that don’t believe in it and are the real fascists.”

In a statement, the Student Union said it is “required by law to remain politically neutral, and cannot endorse or oppose any political parties”.

Condemning the society, the Brighton and Hove young Greens said in a statement: “The presence of a Reform UK society at Sussex blatantly opposes the values that the Students Union claims to strive for, and jeopardises the safety and wellbeing of those who belong to groups discriminated against by this hateful party.”

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