Barring a last-minute admission of mindless stupidity, or possibly a bloody riot on St Giles, the chinless wonders of the Oxford Union will today host two convicted criminals – British National Party leader Nick Griffin and holocaust denying jailbird “historian” David Irving – at a discussion on “The Limits of Free Speech”. How very, very amusing.

Even arch cold-warrior Tory MP Julian Lewis has denounced the move, and resigned his life membership of the Union in protest. Good for him.

A BNP spokesman is reported to have said:

“This event is a big breakthrough for our party to spread its message in democratic surroundings.”

You don’t say. It sounds to me like the fascists are a whole lot smarter than the supposed cream of the future British ruling class. But then Griffin is a Cambridge chap (third class degree in History with Law), so maybe that explains it. I despair for the future of these once great nations.