No 10 cuts off NUS over anti-semitism fears
National Union of Students will have funds suspended after concerns raised about tweets from new president
The Government will suspend all engagement with the National Union of Students over anti-semitism allegations, an education minister has said. Michelle Donelan announced measures meaning the union will receive no government funding and will be removed from all Department for Education student groups. It comes after a series of anti-semitism rows involving the union, including controversy over social media posts by Shaima Dallali, its incoming president.
THE Government will halt all official contact with the National Union of Students (NUS) over anti-semitism allegations, an education minister has said.
Michelle Donelan has announced measures meaning the union will receive no government funding. In addition, none of its members will be allowed to sit on government panels within the Department for Education, Office for Students or the Student Loans Company.
The move comes after a series of antisemitism rows involving the NUS, including controversy over the social media posts of its incoming president.
Ms Donelan said: “I am horrified by the thought of Jewish students feeling ostracised by an organisation which should be a voice for their community and an advocate of equality for all students. Although this was a decision that the department did not take lightly, we have been clear that anti-semitism must be stamped out of the sector and are treating these allegations with the utmost seriousness.”
Shaima Dallali was this year elected the new leader of the organisation, which aims to represent the interests of more than seven million students across 600 student unions in the UK. But a series of tweets posted by Ms Dallali on social media provoked anger among groups tackling anti-semitism, who called for her to meet Jewish students and “build bridges”.
Her posts included comments showing apparent sympathy towards Hamas, and quoting an anti-jewish battle cry.
The NUS was also criticised by Jewish student groups for inviting the rapper Lowkey to perform at one of its conferences. Lowkey made a series of comments branded as anti-semitic. These included that the mainstream media had “weaponised the Jewish heritage” of Ukraine’s president, and that Israel was a “racist endeavour”.
Nadhim Zahawi, the Education Secretary, said he was “seriously concerned” at the number of reports of alleged anti-semitism linked to the NUS. “Jewish students need to have confidence that this body represents them, and we need to be sure that student bodies we engage with are speaking fairly for all students, which is why we are disengaging with the NUS until the issues have been addressed,” he said.
An NUS spokesman said: “We are disappointed that the universities minister has press-released that the DFE will be disengaging with NUS rather than seeking to engage with us directly.
“Following a complaint about antisemitism we launched an independent investigation. We will be appointing a QC, in consultation with the Union of Jewish Students, next week.
“We have sought to undertake the investigation in a serious and proper way, and are working in collaboration with UJS at every step of the way. Once the QC has been appointed we will be able to update on the process and timeline. We look forward to working with the Government constructively on this matter.”