Suella Braverman was forced to call off a speech after a pro-Palestinian group threatened to protest the event.
The former home secretary was due to talk at the Cambridge University Conservative Association (CUCA), which she led 20 years ago as a student.
Campaign group Cambridge for Palestine called on supporters to “no platform” the “far-right” MP for Fareham and Waterlooville.
The group claimed her “hyper-authoritarian populist policies on migration, policing and protest” represented “everything we stand against.”
Former Home Secretary Suella Braverman was due to talk at the Cambridge University Conservative Association (CUCA)
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CUCA and Braverman decided they could not guarantee her safety, or that of their guests.
The event was supposed to take place at a room at Corpus Christi College. The group looking into the possibility of paying for their own security but, at a cost of about £1,500, its officers decided it was too expensive.
Braverman posted on social media: “I was due to speak at Cambridge University today. Sadly the event was cancelled because of militant pro-Palestinian protestors & the security risks they posed to the attendees & me. Intimidation & thuggery have no place on campus or in our democracy.”
Chairman of CUCA Szymon Sawicki said: “We want as many people as possible to attend our events…It is a huge shame that a speaker who has contributed so much to the UK political environment is unable to talk about her record.”
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It comes after pro-Palestine encampments appeared at the University
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Reacting to the announcement, a spokesperson from Cambridge for Palestine posted on social media: “CAMBRIDGE TWO, BRAVERMAN NIL: CUCA has postponed Suella Braverman’s talk due to the planned protest!
“Let’s all keep an eye on the CUCA socials and be ready to mobilise any time she tries to sneak past us. In the meantime, we won’t be protesting but we might have a small presence to raise awareness of Cambridge anti-raids organising at that time. Feel free to pop by.”
It comes after the new Labour Government shelved a new law aimed at tackling cancel culture on campuses. The University of Cambridge had issued its own rules on protecting freedom of speech.
The university said it would introduce from August 2024 a new code of practice because it was “fully committed to the principle and to the promotion of freedom of speech” for its staff and students.
WATCH: Suella Braverman goes head-to-head with Fiona Lali
Earlier this year, Braverman went head to head with Fiona Lali from the Revolutionary Communist Party after visiting a pro-Palestine encampment at Cambridge where they refused to speak to her.
Lali said: “The camps haven’t started because of October 7 specifically. This week, in loads of encampments across the country, they’ve been having to memorise the fact that this week commemorates the Nakba, which took place 76 years ago. It means catastrophe and it’s a massive symbol of what Israel has been doing for the last 76 years.
“This is not about October 7 and to ask about that is disingenuous on your part. I think it’s great that you went to the camp today to talk to those students and you embarrassed yourself doing that.”
Braverman responded insisting the Israeli military are “targeting Hamas” and there is no intention to kill citizens in the conflict. Lali hit back, saying the International Court of Justice has declared the events in Palestine a genocide, a comment Braverman said is “wrong.”
