The Oxford Union, one of the UK’s oldest debating societies, has hosted an impressive array of influential guests since its founding in 1823, including Michael Jackson and the Dalai Lama.
What Is the Oxford Union?
The Oxford Union Society is housed in Frewin Court in Oxford. Members of the Union have unlimited access to weekly debates and speaker events in its famous free-standing debate chamber.
The society exists independently from Oxford University but, for a fee, its students are eligible for a lifetime membership. Students at Oxford Brookes University are also eligible for the duration of their studies.
Ambitious students from the University of Oxford run the Union’s governing body, the Standing Committee. These positions are highly competitive and frequently act as a launchpad for a successful political career. Past committee members include Boris Johnson, Harold MacMillan and Benazhir Bhutto.
The committee oversees the Union’s events, inviting speakers, organising the annual garden party and election all-nighters, and hosting two balls every year.
Notable Speakers at the Oxford Union
The Oxford Union Society does not pay its speakers, indicating just how revered an invitation can be. Hated or loved, speakers attend the Union to challenge audiences in the name of democracy.
For politicians and activists, speaking at the Union marks a career milestone. From Desmond Tutu, Mother Theresa and Malcolm X to the likes of Nigel Farage, Tommy Robinson and Jacob Rees-Mogg, guests span the political spectrum. The Union has hosted a total of seven British Prime Ministers, including Churchill and Thatcher, and American Presidents Ronald Reagan, Jimmy Carter, Richard Nixon and Bill Clinton.
But the stage isn’t just for political leaders; the Union also invites pioneers from the worlds of science, music, media, business and sports. The highlights include Morgan Freeman, Richard Dawkins, A$AP Rocky, Elton John, Shakira and Stephen Fry.
Each year, the Oxford Scholastica Academy adds to this star-studded line-up during our Debate & Public Speaking Masterclass. Described by many students as one of the best experiences of their life, it’s an unmissable opportunity and a highlight of our Oxford summer school.
Controversial Moments at the Oxford Union
As with any debating society that offers a stage to the rich and powerful, controversy will surely follow.
In 1933, the Union passed a motion that it would ‘in no circumstances fight for its King and Country’. Subsequently, Winston Churchill reviled the Union as ‘abject’ and ‘squalid.’
In 1966, the Union invited O.J. Simpson to speak in his first public appearance since his acquittal. Although the committee’s President promised there would be no broadcast media at the event, Chris Philip, now a Conservative MP, was fined for selling transcriptions and recordings of the speech to TV stations.
In 2015, Marine Le Pen, leader of France’s Front National, accepted an invitation to speak. However, members of the Students’ Union were outraged by Le Pen’s associations with Islamophobia and anti-Semitism. While her speech went ahead as planned, over 400 students arrived to blockade the entrance in protest.
In 2019, security officials forcibly removed a blind, Black student from the debating chamber, triggering widespread backlash and leading to Union President Brendan McGrath’s resignation.
The Lasting Legacy of the Oxford Union
For hundreds of years, the Oxford Union has sat at the centre of the city’s global influence in debate, oration and free speech. Host to some of the world’s most eminent figures, the Union has been granted an almost mythological status.
If you’re passionate about debating and aged 15-18, our Debate & Public Speaking summer school is an excellent opportunity to hone your skills in the historic city of Oxford.
By Oxford Scholastica Academy
The Oxford Scholastica Academy was founded in 2013 by Jamie and Sophie, two former University of Oxford students, who have built a dynamic education company dedicated to empowering young people to chart their path in the world and make it better.
