These institutions are becoming useful idiots in the propaganda efforts of an illiberal nation

The University of York students’ union appears to be showing off its progressive credentials by doing the bidding of the authoritarian Chinese state.

Union-run campus security officials reportedly asked students to take down a "Lennon Wall" containing information about pro-democracy demonstrations in Hong Kong. This came after the campus Chinese Society claimed the display was “offensive”. In the end, University authorities allowed the wall to remain, provided students remove non-English materials.

The notion that an idea is too offensive to be heard on campus is sadly nothing new; for years, left-wing "snowflake" students have used this paltry excuse to censor ideas - and even loud noises - they dislike.

But these latest efforts come as the Chinese Communist Party seeks to stamp out liberties in Hong Kong, viciously oppresses Uighur Muslims in Xinjiang re-education camps, suppresses Tibetan independence and pursues an expansionist foreign policy in the South China Sea.

British universities are becoming useful idiots in the strategic and propaganda efforts of a nation opposed to liberal democratic values. In the process, they are undermining our core principle of freedom of expression.

Chinese state influence at Western universities has come to the fore in recent months because of the efforts of a small number of courageous Hong Kong students standing up for their homeland. At Sheffield, a Hong Kong student had a bottle thrown at them during a protest – a 19-year-old Chinese national was subsequently arrested.