Universities must tackle antisemitism, says Education Secretary Phillipson
Universities must take steps to shield Jewish students from bullying and discrimination on campus, according to Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson, who has proposed antisemitism legislation. Phillipson said that there has been a unacceptable rise in antisemitism
at universities, and that many Jewish students now do not feel safe on campuses.
tackle this poison of antisemitism,The UK government is funding education to help employees and students at universities
There can be no place for bullying and coercion. "Universities can and must act on that.she said. Phillipson said on Sunday's Laura Kuenssberg show,
Priti Patel, the Conservative shadow foreign minister, said the Labour government should be gripping
antisemitism in the UK, as well as hate marches
where people are being so racist to the Jewish community. On Saturday, thousands of protesters gathered in London for a march in favor of Palestinians, and she argued hatred
was demonstrated. Throughout Gaza's conflict, demonstrations have also taken place, including on the second anniversary of the 7 October Hamas attack on Israel earlier this week. Despite Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's pleas for students not to participate, warning of rising antisemitism on our streets,
the demonstrations continued. The marches came just days after two Jewish men were killed in a terrorist attack at a Manchester synagogue on Yom Kippur. When compared to the previous two years, the Community Security Trust, a charity that provides cover at universities such as synagogues and Jewish schools, saw an increase in antisemitic incidents on university campuses in the 2022/23 and 2024 academic years. Phillipson said she had spoken to Jewish students who felt they were struggling to conceal their identity. Jewish students on campus don't feel safe,
she said.
The education secretary wrote to university vice-chancellors, asking them to take steps to shield Jewish students from bullying. The Union of Jewish Students will have 600 training sessions to support university employees in the areas of bullying and bigotry, according to the government. A £4 million fund will fund programs that teach pupils and students how to spot disinformation online and promote interfaith awareness. Separately, £2 million is being invested in a scheme to educate secondary school students in England about the Holocaust, the genocide of Jews during World War II.Parents are also concerned about sending their children to university. We cannot accept that. There can be no place for it.
According to Patel, the Conservatives defended the right to protest and expression in a democratic manner. However, Patel told Laura Kuenssberg that pro-Palestinian marches in London demonstrated division and bigotry
in our culture.
Take a look at the degree of bigotry on the streets of London to Britain's Jewish congregation,A look at what happened on London's streets yesterday.
stop arming Israelshe said. On Saturday, tens of thousands of pro-Palestinian demonstrators, as well as a small group of pro Israeli counter-protesters, descended on central London. During the march, which came a day after an Israel-Hamas ceasefire in Gaza came into place, slogans such as
andfree Palestine" were evident. The Metropolitan Police said it had made 14 arrests for offences ranging from breaching Public Order Act provisions, affray, and assisting a proscribed group.
