OXFORD Union president Ben Sullivan has urged speakers to appear before students, as several guests cancelled their talks because of his arrest earlier this month.

Mr Sullivan, who was arrested on May 6 on suspicion of rape and attempted rape and released on bail pending further inquiries, said: “The Union was founded on the principles of free speech and debate.

“This remains more important than any individual speaker and any president."

Speakers who refused to attend the union include Interpol secretary-general Ronald Noble, Human Rights Watch director David Mepham and Dragon’s Den judge Julie Meyer.

Responding to calls for him to resign while the police inquiry continued, Mr Sullivan, 21, said: “I feel the calls for my resignation are premature. A person is innocent until proven guilty.”

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