Right-wing tabloids the Daily Express and Daily Mail went into meltdown this morning after Oxford University students voted to remove the Queen’s picture from their common room.
Members of the Magdalen College Middle Common Room, which is made up of post-graduate students, overwhelmingly voted to remove the portrait, according to reports.
Political website Guido Fawkes reported the motion was launched to make members “feel welcome”, with one student said to have commented “patriotism and colonialism are not really separable”.
The alleged decision sparked a backlash on Twitter, with education secretary Gavin Williamson even getting involved.
He tweeted: “Oxford University students removing a picture of the Queen is simply absurd.
“She is the Head of State and a symbol of what is best about the UK. During her long reign she has worked tirelessly to promote British values of tolerance, inclusivity and respect around the world.”
Barrister Dinah Rose, who was appointed president of Magdalen College last year, emphasised that the students were not representative of the college, but supported their right to “free speech and political debate”.
But that didn’t stop the Express and Mail splashing it across their front pages.
‘How Dare they!’, the former said, while the latter opted for ‘Outrage!’.
As Nadine Batchelor-Hunt wrote on Twitter, both front covers are typical of just “another normal day on this island.”
Tomorrow's front page: How dare they! Oxford students cancel our Queen#TomorrowsPapersTodayhttps://t.co/4OPRfnjNT2 pic.twitter.com/qn9dFCfEjV
— Daily Express (@Daily_Express) June 8, 2021
Wednesday's @DailyMailUK #MailFrontPages pic.twitter.com/edHp4kZP7K
— Daily Mail U.K. (@DailyMailUK) June 8, 2021
Related: Gareth Southgate letter reminds us of ‘what it means to be a progressive patriot’ – Bragg