Oxford Union president survives no confidence vote

Moosa Harraj is the current president of the Oxford Union

The president of the Oxford Union has survived a motion of no confidence, just days after his successor was ousted in similar fashion.

The centuries-old society announced on Friday that the vote against Moosa Harraj had failed, with about 65% voting in support of the current president.

It comes three days after president-elect George Abaraonye was ousted from his position over comments he made in the wake of the death of Charlie Kirk.

Since then a row has erupted, with Mr Abaraonye claiming the poll was "compromised" by "untested" regulations.

He also alleged that people campaigning to oust him had "unsupervised access" to the email account collecting proxy votes.

Oxford Union has denied claims the poll was compromised.

Mr Harraj survived Thursday's vote with 829 of the 1288 ballots cast voting against the motion to depose him.

The motion had been instigated following Mr Abaraonye's defeat on Tuesday.

Ahead of the motion, Mr Harraj alleged that it was a "calculated act of political retaliation".

He claimed it had been driven by "spite and hatred" and brought by those who wished "to bring the institution down with them".

But in a statement shared with the BBC on Wednesday, Mr Abaraonye said Mr Harraj's comments were a "blatant attempt to deflect from the serious allegations made by others against his leadership".

He added that the current president had "falsely accused" him of "orchestrating the current motion of no confidence", which was "categorically untrue".

Charlie Kirk and George Abaraonye took part in a debate at the Oxford Union in May

Mr Abaraonye was defeated in his own no confidence vote earlier this week following comments he made after Charlie Kirk, an influential right-wing activist and close ally of US President Donald Trump, was shot dead while speaking at a university in Utah.

According to the Telegraph, Mr Abaraonye posted a message on Instagram which read "Charlie Kirk got shot loool" - an elongated version of the phrase 'lol' which means 'laughing out loud'.

He is also said to have posted in a WhatsApp chat with fellow students appearing to welcome the incident.

Mr Abaraonye had taken part in a discussion with Mr Kirk at the university debating society in May, in which the pair expressed opposing views on masculinity.

Last week, Mr Abaraonye said he had submitted the motion of no confidence in himself.

A notice published by extraordinary returning officer Donovan Lock on Tuesday said 1,228 ballots were cast in favour of no confidence, while 501 were against.

The notice stated the president-elect was deemed to have resigned in accordance with Oxford Union's rules.

In a statement on Tuesday Mr Abaraonye said a complaint about the process has been referred to the disciplinary committee and that he was still the president-elect until this was resolved.

The notice published by the returning officer said the president-elect is deemed to have resigned in accordance with Oxford Union's rules, but adds that if allegations or complaints are lodged the result shall be pending their determination.