UK PM tells university leaders to protect Jewish students on campus News
Lauren Hurley / No 10 Downing, OGL 3, via Wikimedia Commons
UK PM tells university leaders to protect Jewish students on campus

University leaders should take responsibility for protecting Jewish students on campus, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said to vice-chancellors during an antisemitism roundtable hosted at Downing Street. Sunak met with 17 leaders of higher education institutions from England and Scotland, along with Jewish student and community groups.

The meeting was convened after the proliferation of student encampments in protest at the fighting in Gaza, with concerns that Jewish students could be intimidated or harassed. The protests are calling for a boycott and divestment from Israel, as many UK universities currently hold investments in arms firm BAE Systems, which is currently supplying Israel with arms. Tensions are particularly high on campuses, as Jewish students say accusations of Israel committing genocide in Gaza contribute to the increasing risk of anti-semitism.

At the talks, representatives of Union of Jewish Students (UJS) expressed their concerns surrounding the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act. Difficulties are arising with regulating speech on campus to tackle anti-semitism after the new Act was introduced with the intention of liberalizing speech and bolstering academic freedom. Education Secretary, Gillian Keegan, stated after the meeting that there had been a 203% increase in antisemitic incidents at UK universities in 2023 and warned against weaponizing free speech to harass and intimidate others.

Following the talks, Edward Isaacs, President of the UJS, said:

Today’s roundtable should be a wake up call to Vice-Chancellors across the UK. We have entered a new normal but an unacceptable normal- antisemitism has reached an all time high on campus. Following this meeting, Vice-Chancellors must deliver swift and decisive action to safeguard Jewish life on campus.

In the Autumn Statement last year, the Chancellor announced £7 million of extra support to tackle antisemitic abuse in educational settings. £500,000 of this will be dedicated to supporting the work of the University Jewish Chaplaincy, boosting support for Jewish students on campus. Keegan also confirmed that the meeting will be used to inform upcoming government guidance on combatting antisemitism on campus. 

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