PICTURES: The Oxford Union celebrates 200 years of debates

The Oxford Union will be marking 200 years to the day since its first debate on April 5, 1823.

In March 1823 ‘The United Debating Society’ was born and held its first debate on April 5: “Was the revolution under Cromwell to be attributed to the tyrannical conduct of Charles, or to the democratic spirit of the time?”

As membership increased, it became clear that the quality of discussion would remain limited without a set of governing rules and so on December 3 1825, The United Debating Society was dissolved, to the delight of many of had disapproved of its activities.

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However, two days later, The Oxford Union was established, accompanied by a set of rules that still inform the society’s functioning today.

President Matthew Dick said: "The fifth of April reminds us of the courage of the founding 25 students, who met in secret to debate ideas that would otherwise have been prohibited.

"200 years later, the fervent idea of freedom of speech still animates the spirit of the Union and the weekly debates that we hold.

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"Today we pay tribute to all those who have championed and continue to defend free speech.

"In many ways, the need to preserve free speech is as relevant today as it was two centuries ago as evidenced by protests calling for the Union to cancel speakers.

"However, we will continue to stand firm and not give in to pressure to cancel a controversial speaker – instead, we encourage our members to challenge and scrutinise their views."

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There have been a number of controversies surrounding the Union.

In 1996 OJ Simpson gave his first public address after his acquittal for murdering his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman in 1994.

Simpson spoke of racism in the Los Angeles Police Department and said he was sorry for hitting his wife.

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President Paul Kenward had given Simpson assurances there would be no broadcast media, however, Chris Philip, later a Conservative MP and then a student at University College and features editor of the student magazine Cherwell, was fined £50 for selling a written transcript and helping to sell an audio cassette to TV stations.

In 2007 several hundred protesters chanted anti-fascist slogans and prevented people entering the building for a planned debate between Holocaust denier David Irving and Nick Griffin, president of the far-right British National Party.

Around 20 protesters broke in and staged a sit-in in the debating chamber. Smaller debates were eventually held with Irving and Griffin in separate rooms.

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Following the event, some, including Oxford MP Evan Harris criticised the No Platform Policy adopted by the Student Union.

In 2015 Marine le Pen, a speech by the leader of the French Front National was delayed by around 400 protesters blockading the Union's main entrance, and briefly breaking into the building.

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There was controversy over OUSU's response, with allegations that OUSU had indirectly supported the protesters and not adequately condemned threats of violence against Union members who had attempted to attend the talk.

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