Nottingham City Council has apologised for cancelling an event by the Feminist activist and writer Julie Bindel, describing their decision as ‘procedurally unlawful’.
Ms Bindel was due to give a talk on her history as a feminist activist at an event organised by the group called ‘Nottingham Women for Change’. However, the talk was cancelled by the local authority because of Ms Bindel’s controversial views on trans rights – or what she calls the ‘trans ideology’.
Ms Bindel accused the council of discrimination and libel, and said she would be suing the local authority.
The council has now issued an apology for what they describe was an ‘unlawful’ decision.
‘Nottingham City Council now accepts that its decision to cancel the event was procedurally unlawful,’ said a council spokesperson.
‘Nottingham City Council apologises to Ms Bindel and Nottingham Women for Change for cancelling the event in this way and for the inconvenience caused as a result of this decision.’
The spokesperson added: ‘Nottingham City Council has agreed that, if Nottingham Women for Change seeks to make a booking at any Nottingham City Council venue by way of a fully completed booking form, the Council will make a fresh decision in response to such request upon a lawful basis.’
Writing about the council’s apology on the website Unherd, Ms Bindel said: ‘This is such an important win because any future refusal will be open to legal challenge. And other local authorities will have to think twice before deciding to de-platform or ban a speaker because they have decided their legal and reasonable views are offensive.’
