THE OXFORD Union is again facing widespread criticism after inviting President Trump's former right hand man, Steve Bannon, to speak tomorrow.

Hundreds are expected to protest ahead of the afternoon event, which follows the cancellation of an appearance by a far-right German leader at the institution earlier this month.

The announcement was made just two days ahead of the appearance by Mr Bannon, who was the White House's chief strategist until last year and has links with far-right groups worldwide.

A coalition of anti-racist campaigners, local councillors, students and academics have voiced outrage at the invitation, with more than 150 signing an open letter calling for the invitation to be revoked.

Oxford Stand Up To Racism's Ian McKendrick said: "In a climate of rising racism and racist attacks, and when the spectre of fascism is once again stalking Europe, the Oxford Union is helping a lead figure of the alt-right spread racist poison. This can only help drive up racist attacks and make it easier for fascists to enter mainstream politics.

READ MORE: Alice Weidel at Oxford Union: Pressure grows to revoke invite

"Across the world far right and fascists look to Bannon. We should remember that leaders of white supremacist groups and the Klu Klux Klan celebrated Bannon entering the White House."

But Union president Steven Horvath defended the move, saying: "The event with Mr Bannon provides an opportunity for our members to hear from an individual who has been at the centre of the rise in right-wing populism, as well as to critically question and debate the ideas and rhetoric of Mr Bannon.

"It is only through listening to the opinions of others that we can fully understand those opinions. Whether we are inclined to agree or disagree with them, there is a profound intellectual value in critically thinking through why it is that we agree or disagree instead or just rejecting them out of hand."

Tracy Walsh, treasurer of Oxford Unite Against Fascism, said: "The far right are making gains across Europe, the US and Latin America. They are using racism to divide us and this opens up space for fascism to grow.

"Last weekend we saw fascists openly marching with far right state officials on the 200,000 strong Independence Day march in Poland. We cannot allow the far-right to help fascism become part of mainstream politics again."

The St Michael's Street protest is planned for 2.30pm tomorrow, with Mr Bannon appearing at the Union from 4pm.

The letter in full:

We condemn the Oxford Union invitation to Alt-Right guru Steve Bannon to speak on 16 November. The Oxford Union is once again giving a platform to a far right speaker, and by doing so legitmising racism.

Bannon is attempting to build an Islamophobic international of far-right groups and is looking to fascist Tommy Robinson here in Britain as a key figure for his movement.

Bannon was the white supremacists' link to Donald Trump's White House until August 2017.

Touring far-right groups in Europe, Bannon told them, “Let them call you racists. Let them call you xenophobes. Let them call you nativists. Wear it as a badge of honour.”

We call on the Oxford Union to stop giving credibility to racism and fascism and cancel the invitation to Steve Bannon.

Signed:

Oxford Stand Up To Racism

Oxford Unite Against Fascism

Oxford Love Music Hate Racism

Jane Caplan Emeritus Professor of Modern History, University of Oxford

Professor David Smith Department of Pharmacology, University of Oxford

Professor Robert Gildea History Faculty, University of Oxford

Professor Peter Somogyi Department of Pharmacology, University of Oxford

Dr Thomas Newport St Cross College, University of Oxford

Alon Lischinsky Senior Lecturer, School of History, Philosophy & Culture, Oxford Brookes University

Anna Ashton Post-doctoral Researcher, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neuroscience, University of Oxford

Professor Upamanyu Pablo Mukherjee Warwick University

Ruthi Brandt LMH alumna

Kevin Smith St Annes College alumni

Nicholas Carverhill St. John's College, Oxford

Robert Hallam Tuck St. Antony’s College (Alumnus)

Sam Hollick Oxford University alumnus

Eleonora Rossi Alumna - Merton college

Mark Haddon Author

Mike Rowley City Councillor

Ann Black Secretary, Oxford & District Labour Party

Stephen Marks vice-chair Oxford District Labour Party

Rabyah Khan Co-Chair, Oxford & District Labour Party

Gwynne Reddick Secretary Wantage constituency Labour party

Cherry Mosteshar Co-chair Oxford Momentum

Sam Gurney TUC regional secretary - London, East and South East

Pol O'ceallaigh President Oxford & District Trades Council

Elane heffernan UCU—NEC & Chair Disabled Members Committee

Dr Peter Dwyer UCU Executive, Ruskin College

Des McDermott Branch Chair, Ruskin College UCU

Grant Buttars UCU Edinburgh (Hon. President)

Chris Davis International officer, UNISON Oxfordshire Health Branch

Stuart Robinson Assistant secretary Oxfordshire National Education Union (NUT Section)

Kate Douglas PCS DWP South East Regional Secretary

Chad Croom CWU South Central postal branch secretary

Keith Hamilton CWU South Central postal, Political officer

Steve Gill CWU South Central postal sub-area delivery rep

Paul Garraway CWU South Central postal area delivery rep

Pat Carmody Unite SE Services Sector Committee

Michelle Codrington-Rogers Secretary Oxfordshire NASUWT Federation

Julie Clarke Primary school T.A GMB Workshop rep

Tracy Walsh Trade Union Tutor and Treasurer Oxford UAF

Dr Chris Blakey Retired teacher, former NUT NEC

Yasmin Sidhwa Mandala Theatre Company, Artistic Director

David hillman Chair Oxford PSC campaign

Till Weidner University of Oxford - PhD candidate, Engineering Science, Exeter College

Georgia Allen University College

Alice Nuttall Oxford Brookes

Michael Gribben Keble College

Dr Sos Eltis Brasenose College

Bilal Hakeem consultant

Philippa Dunlop Student at Oxford Brookes University

Dhruva Bhat St John's College

Héctor Sierra South London SUTR

David Shakespeare IT Services, Oxford University

katrina mayer GMB

Sarah Hayton Freelance

Mena Remedios Quaker

Tom Machell BECTU sector of Prospect Communications and Digital steering group

Anwen Jones None

Rob Hoveman Central European University

Sasha Simic USDAW C133 Shop Steward

edward pope human

Ryan Sherbo Mathematical Institute, Keble College

Abishek Kulshreshtha University of Oxford, DPhil Student

Julia Schnatz MSc. Economics for Development

Jamie Shenk Doctoral Student in Sociology, Oxford University

Zeena Oberoi Pembroke College

Harkan Karakaya University of York

Cheryl Lamb-Evans St. Peter's College

Helen Brown University of Oxford

Lucia Akard Dphil Student, Linacre College Oxford

Ciaran Walsh Oxford Stand up to Racism

Giles Ungpakorn retired academic

Robin Malloy St Hughs

N R Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust

Shegufta Huma St. Antony's College

patrick wheatley DPIR

Tiffany Williams Project Manager

Joel Casey St Anne's College

Geoff Taylor Teacher, St Clare's, Oxford

Beth Hollins St. Catherine's College

Victor Max Smith Oxford Brookes Undergraduate Student

Levi Hord Wadham

Mark Crane AG-HERA

Annette Shaw Regents University

Lana Purcell LMH

Marlene Spangenberg University of Oxford

Chelsea A. Jackson New College

Lucas Kruitwagen Mansfield Colelge

Tony Tingle Sheffield Stan Up To Racism

Simon osborne Na

Peter Cann Labour Party

Marian Mayer Bournemouth University

Coral price Life

Jo McNeill President, University of Liverpool UCU

Sally Brooking Tula Publishing

Samantha Cranston Property management

Laura Kerr-Harnott Oxford Health NHS

Dana Mills Oxford Brookes University

Harry Paterson Broxtowe Constituency Labour Party

Mar Crego Walters Kellogg College

Kay Woolcock Retired

Milan Kloewer Jesus College

Anika Knuppel University of Oxford, Nuffield Department of Population Health

Nighat Malik Education

Emily Nhs

Beth Fransham School

Caroline Raine UNISON

Nigel Dobson retired teacher

Jenny Leow Homerton Unison (pc)

David Harvie University of Leicester

Nick White SHEFFIELD Hallam University

Sue Shaw Self

Charlie Purvis Sheffield Hallam University

Jo Brewis The Open University

Salma Baz University of leicester

Maya Vivian OLC PRODUCTION LTD PROJECT DEVELOPMENT MANAGER

Professor Megan Pivey University if Leedds

Jenny Lewis Retired teacher

Henna Khanom Wadham

Madeline Badcott Wadham College

Cristiana Rodrigues Coventry University London

Anne Browne Oxford NHS Hospitals Trust Foundation

Irene Guijt research

Louise Raw Journalist

Amy Chairwoman of L&B Labour party

Nikki Dancey GMB

Aimee Georgeson NHS

Kevan SUTR Derby

Christina Fox Lay Missionary from Oxford working in Kenya

Peter cooper Hope against hate

Dave Muritu Sandwell College UCU, NEC

Nadia Mitchell RUH

Jojo Goodfellow Charity

Tanya Laird Mother, grandmother. Friend of all . Working full time self employed business owner .

Jenny Shipley College

Pauline Sebti Retired

Lauren Fulcher Lady Margaret Hall

Paul Jackson National Library of Wales

Patricia McLoughlin None

Jude Piper University Hospitals Bristol NHS Trust

Dave Statham GMB Holborn

Ruth Axten retired teacher

Anne Taylor retired teacher

Lena Reim St Antony's College

Maya Arigala Study abroad student at Keble College for the semester

Lorraine Dindi Trinity College

Anthony Phillips Retired

Fanny Falkenberg MPhil International Relations, Balliol

Martha Cadle-Nisbet Mrs

Karen Evans University of Liverpool

Moira Giddens Wales Deanery

Maximilian Ahrens DPhil in Engineering, New College, Oxford

Nils Rochowicz Mansfield College

Andrew Forse Labour Party, Oxford East CLP

M. Mukherjee None

Al Jardes self, retired

David Smith Department of Pharmacology