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The unnamed moderator was expected to arrive in this Love Bus.

The continuing wrangle over freedom of speech on campus took a twist this week, as it emerged that secret plans for an election leaders¡¯ debate to be broadcast live from an Oxford college were ditched on the grounds that the unnamed moderator was a ¡°liberal extremist¡±.

Academics have previously won concessions over government plans to control the terms of debate within universities, however hopes of a general softening of policy appear to have been dashed.

Times Higher Education understands that É«ºÐÖ±²¥ Secretary Theresa May stepped in personally to veto the debate at All Fool¡¯s College, Oxford, arguing that the moderator hand-picked by David Cameron from within his constituency was ¡°too progressive¡± for his views to be ¡°compatible with mainstream British values¡±.

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¡°The É«ºÐÖ±²¥ Secretary got wind of the plans late in the day, but May was adamant that this individual was not someone she could countenance,¡± a source said. ¡°Surprisingly, though, her objections were that he was far too liberal; it¡¯s not an argument we¡¯ve heard before.¡±

Speaking to reporters while on the campaign trail in Brands Hatch earlier today, May stuck by her decision. ¡°Extremism swings both ways,¡± she said, ¡°and we need to guard against universities becoming out of sync with mainstream British society; a moderator with excessively liberal views was inappropriate.¡±

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She added: ¡°I¡¯m a É«ºÐÖ±²¥ Secretary who acts without fear or favour, so I did not hesitate despite this individual being a member of the powerful liberal cell known as the Chipping Norton set. Believe me, I¡¯ve made more tough decisions than he¡¯s had hot dinners.¡±

Jeremy Clarkson was unavailable for comment.