GETTY One in four students would ban Ukip members from speaking at campus events

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The data shows three-quarters of students at UK universities would ban, or 'no-platform', speakers whose views "offended" them. And 27 per cent believe members of the anti-EU party led by Nigel Farage should not be invited to speak on their campus. Critics said the research, from the Higher Education Policy Institute (Hepi), revealed "illiberal" views among undergraduates.

Illiberalism appears to be a way of protecting liberalism Nick Hillman

Nick Hillman, director of Hepi, said: "For some students, illiberalism appears to be a way of protecting liberalism. "Higher education institutions should redouble their efforts to discuss the challenges, threats and limits to free speech with their students. "Otherwise, no one can guarantee higher education will continue to offer a space in which good ideas defeat weak ones through open debate."

GETTY The news is likely to anger Ukip leader and Brexit campaigner Nigel Farage

The feminist writer Naomi Wolf said the attitudes revealed in the survey of 1,000 students in more than 100 universities were "catastrophic". She added: "They show a terrifying trend, especially in British universities which for 800 years have served as lights of freedom of thought." And historian Amanda Foreman said it was "sad" students were "fighting to close their minds against new ideas".

REX Feminist writer Naomi Woolf said the results of the survey were 'catastrophic'

Nigel Farage in pictures Mon, April 3, 2017 Nigel Farage is a British politician who has been the leader of the UK Independence Party since October 2016. Play slideshow Getty 1 of 48 Nigel Farage in pictures