"We are appalled by the decision to invite the leader of the fascist BNP to the University of Bath. We are urging the university not to let this go ahead.

Yesterday's local elections saw the BNP field 750 candidates across the Scottish parliamentary elections, Welsh assembly, English and Scottish local elections. The BNP share of the vote has increased more than 75-fold in the last six years. Where the BNP is active, racist violence increases. In this climate, the decision to invite Nick Griffin to speak at the University of Bath, is at best naive and at worse dangerous.

NUS believes that all students, no matter what background, should be able to study and socialise in a safe, inclusive and welcoming environment, free from incitement to violence and prejudice, hatred and fear."

Ruqayyah Collector, NUS Black Student Officer said;

"The BNP is a fascist organisation in the tradition of Hitler and the Nazis. Nick Griffin has denied the Holocaust describing it as a hoax and the BNP calls for an 'all-white Britain' which could only be achieved through violence. Fascism stands for the annihilation of entire communities, the murder of millions and the destruction of democracy, freedom of speech and human rights.

Clearly the BNP has no place on campus and the university should not allow this meeting to go ahead. Students should not have to study in fear.

NUS is calling on all students to take part in the University and College Union protest against the BNP and to get involved with Unite Against Fascism."