Cambridge to debate without Savage?

Cambridge Union Society building

The Cambridge Union Society apparently plans to hold a debate next week on political correctness without Michael Savage, despite informing the talk-radio host's producer yesterday that the entire event had been canceled.

Savage, who has been banned from entry to the United Kingdom, along with Muslim terrorists, was scheduled to speak Oct. 15 for the opposition, via video link, in a debate titled "This House Believes Political Correctness is Sane and Necessary."

But an e-mail yesterday from Cambridge Union presidents Julien Domercq and Jonathan Laurence stated that along with problems with the cost and feasibility of setting up the necessary video link, they had "reconsulted with our counsel, and been informed that there are numerous legal issues with Dr Savage speaking here."

The society leaders said that "because of all of the technical, financial and legal problems involved, we have come to the reluctant conclusion that the event cannot proceed."

The e-mail indicated in the opening line that the debate itself, not just Savage's appearance, had been canceled.

"It is with great regret to inform you of the difficult decision we have taken to cancel the event," they wrote.

On its website today, however, the society indicated only Savage's appearance will be canceled, not the debate. A producer for Savage's network called the society and confirmed the debate will go on as scheduled. WND has asked Domercq for confirmation and to elaborate on the "legal issues" it cited as reason to cancel Savage.

The Cambridge Union website says on its home page:

UPDATE: Due to a variety of technical, financial and other logistic issues, we have taken the highly reluctant decision to cancel Michael Savage's video linked appearance in a debate. Given the variety of speaker and debate events we plan to run, our budget is highly stretched and we did not think that the £5000 plus that the debate as a whole would have cost, following Savage's demands, would be a productive use of members' money. Otherwise our term will run as set out in the printed termcard and online – we hope our old and new members are looking forward to hearing Dara O'Briain, Jo Brand, John Howard, John Bolton et al speak as much as we are!

As WND reported, the invitation from the Cambridge Union for the Oct. 15 debate was issued in July after Savage was banned from entering the U.K. by Prime Minister Gordon Brown's government along with Muslim extremists and leaders of hate groups.

While the society has not explained the "legal issues" it faced, Savage believes the British government clearly didn't want the debate to take place.

"What did the socialist Brown regime fear I might say during the debate?" Savage asked. "What are they hiding from the general public that would have been exposed? Why do they wish to hide what they did to an innocent broadcaster?"

Savage, who has documented his ordeal with the U.K. in an upcoming book, "Banned in Britain," noted official correspondence, released under the U.K.'s freedom of information law in July, revealing a decision was made at the highest level of government to use his name to provide "balance" to a "least wanted" list dominated by Muslim extremists.

Savage asked: "Did they fear my reading the secret e-mails (at the debate) which disclose how the entire British leadership colluded to destroy a man's name and reputation?"

Prior to news of the cancellation, Savage said he had hoped, during the debate, to "appeal to the British people and the incoming conservative leadership to remove my name from their list of murderers and terrorists."

The July 2 invitation to the debate said the Cambridge Union had been following his case "with great interest" and believed he was "more qualified than anyone to talk about the subject of political correctness in America and Britain."

The society, founded in 1815, has hosted the likes of British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and American presidents Ronald Reagan and Theodore Roosevelt.