The UK’s SouthBest West’s Best Publication Student Publication The Student 2023
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ISSUE 775 12 NOV 2025 exepose.com @exepose
THE UNIVERSITY OF EXETER’S INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER SINCE 1987
Exeter Students React to Rival Protests in City Centre Men, Movember and Moustaches Page 6
Images: Melissa Swift
Nina Exton & Michelle Chung Deputy Editors
O COP30 concerns Page 10
Clash of the titans Page 32
Images (top to bottom): Wikimedia commons, Flickr, Wikimedia Commons, Ellis Brewer
N 25 October 2025, Exeter saw rare high police presence in town to monitor two rival protests which took place in the city. Started from Dix’s Field, around 250 people took part in the British Unity Walk with their Union Jacks held high and headed towards the High Street. Organised by Stand Up to Racism and supported by the Student Guild, approximately 600-800 people joined the Exeter for Everyone counter-protest in Bedford Square to celebrate diversity in Exeter. Describing itself as “a movement dedicated to the preservation and advancement of the United Kingdom’s values, culture, and heritage”, supporters of British Unity marched with St George’s flags and Union Jacks in tow, along with chants and signs about stopping the boats, and opposing digital ID cards. The Exeter for Everyone protest consisted of 20 organisations and many city councillors, including the Exeter Green Party, University and College Union (UCU), and Exeter City Council Leader Councillor Phil Bialyk who gave a speech at the protest. In their official statement, Stand
Up to Racism called on their supporters to attend the “celebration of diversity”. They labelled the British Unity Walk as a “far-right march” and stated that they “reject their politics of hate and division”. They reiterated that “Exeter has a proud history celebrating our city, our wonderful culture, history and diversity … Exeter truly is for everyone.” The counter-protest included signs such as “Refugees welcome” and “No deportations”. We were unable to get a firsthand account of a student participant of British Unity Walk. Green Councillor Thomas Richardson of Devon County Council, one of the attendees of the Exeter for Everyone protest, told Exeposé that “there was a strong community atmosphere and people of all ages were there to show that Exeter is a city of sanctuary. I would say that it was a successful protest in response to the British Unity March, there were hundreds more Exeter for Everyone protestors”. This sentiment was echoed by a student representative of Exeter Labour Society, who told Exeposé that the turnout was “amazing”. They said “We completely dwarfed the far-right march, proving that there’s no room in the city we love for such awful hatred”. Through a survey, we asked the student body about their expe-
rience with the protests, with individual sections especially focusing on international students and students of colour, and received responses from eight students. Exeposé also conducted an interview with a student caught in the midst of the protest. She is a home student of South Asian background, studying Maths and Finance, who wishes to remain anonymous. We asked students about their understanding of the British Unity Walk and what they advocate. Racism and anti-immigration were themes present in all students’ answers, with one responding with “an idea of ‘regaining’ Britain in response to the arrival of asylum seekers and refugees, who they believe are a threat to the British community”, and another saying “racism, division, exclusion”. One student referenced migrant hotels as a point of contention, likely referring to The Hampton by Hilton hotel near Exeter Airport, which similarly drew opposing protests concerning migration in August. Another student said “I assume supporters of Reform UK attended this march.” We also asked students about the use of St George’s flags and Union Jacks by far-right movements. One international student noted concern at seeing St George’s Cross spraypainted over street crossings, and another said
“they should stop politicising the flag”. The anonymous student interviewed by Exeposé said when she sees the St George’s flag she immediately thinks of the far-right – “I don’t want to, I don’t think it should be associated with that. I think it should be something we can be proud of, something that represents our country, but they’ve ruined the meaning of the flag.” 100 percent of respondents had a negative reaction to British Unity’s presence. However. a student acknowledged that everyone has a right to protest if done safely and legally, and that “banning their right to protest is probably not a sustainable solution.” Some of our respondents actually experienced the protest firsthand. This female student had no other route home other than to walk through the British Unity Walk. She faced insults and verbal abuse for wearing a keffiyeh, a Middle Eastern scarf that has become a symbol of Palestinian identity and resistance. She observed attendees chanting “get them off our streets”, intimidating minorities. This student found this especially concerning as they live in an accommodation with primarily international students. Another student had vulgar and sexist comments shouted at them by some men at the protest.
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