Christine Bradford Poppy Community Fundraiser at Liverpool Town Hall with student from John Moores University Thomas Croft
LIVERPOOL student union officials have abandoned an idea to block shop sales of Remembrance poppies, after an angry backlash.
The University of Liverpool’s student body, The Guild of Students, sparked outrage after word spread around campus that officials had discussed limiting the sale of Royal British Legion poppies in the run-up to Remembrance Sunday on November 13.
The union confirmed the idea of not displaying the poppies in outlets, including the Guild shop, in its campus off Mount Pleasant.
Josh Wright, deputy president of the Guild, said the idea was aired during a “lively debate” of the union’s hierarchy, as “there was concern some students, although in the minority, would not necessarily feel comfortable with poppies”.
Had the idea gone through, poppy sales could have been confined to vendors representing student societies.
But around 400 angry students signed up to an online petition against the possibility.
Summing up the strength of feeling, one student wrote: “Even thinking about banning sales of poppies is obscene, it doesn’t matter what your beliefs are, the money helps the people who have lost their loved ones in battle.”
Amid the fierce backlash, union officials have now publicly pledged to allow poppies to be sold at all its outlets, as in previous years.
In a statement, the union said: “We are proud of our robust debating culture where people including student representative officers are challenged on their viewpoints, and we believe that everyone has the right to a view.
“As a result of the strength of feeling, and further discussion, the Guild will be selling poppies at Guild outlets.”
Last night, the Royal British Legion, which sold 1.6m poppies in Merseyside and Cheshire last year, said they were glad common sense had prevailed.
Christine Bradford, the RBL’s community fundraiser for Merseyside and West Lancashire, said the move “would have been a shame” as young people will again play a huge part in fundraising this year. This includes Liverpool Hope University students selling poppies at Liverpool’s home game with Swansea, on November 5.