Antisemitism raised during Education Committee evidence session on universities and higher education

The Education Committee today held an evidence session on universities and higher education, during which there was a section on antisemitism. 

The extract from the transcript will be sent to you later this week. 

Witnesses: 

• Nicola Dandridge, Chief Executive, Office for Students
• Clare Merchant, Chief Executive, UCAS
• Quintin McKellar, Vice President for UUK and Vice-Chancellor at University of Hertfordshire, Universities UK
• Professor Debra Humphris, Chair Professor, University Alliance


Committee chairman Robert Halfon (Conservative, Harlow) opened the session by expressing his disappointment that the NUS was reluctant to - and finally failed - to appear. 

He raised the issue of antisemitism in universities, asking what was being done to combat antisemitism and require universities to adopt the International definition of antisemitism. 

Nicola Dandridge said the OfS has good relations with the Union of Jewish Studies, the Board of Deputies and others and had focussed a lot of work on a statement of expectations to prevent and address harassment. Mr Halfon said in the case of David Miller, who was eventually removed by Bristol University, there was little evidence of the OfS intervening. Nicola Dandridge said the OfS was not the enforcer of equality principles but had given guidance to universities and documented the universities which had signed up to the IHRA definition. 

Mr Halfon asked Ms Dandridge for a comment on the rapper, Loki, who it had been announced would open the NUS conference later this month, and who had made a number of antisemitic comments. She replied that the OfS did not regulate the NUS and she did not know much about the case. 

The OfS needed to continue to work with Jewish groups and would be prioritising making the statement of expectations work. This would be reviewed at the end of the year with a view to seeing if further regulatory action was required. 

Quintin McKellar said most universities had requirements which exceeded those of the IHRA. Debra Humphris commented that the OfS statement of expectations may sound thin, but there was a huge amount in it. There had been campaigns as a result of it. Mr Halfon thought the OfS was 'sleepy' on this issue and any action claimed to have been taken was below the radar. 

On the subject of freedom of speech at universities, Tom Hunt MP (Conservative, Ipswich) said he and colleagues had been shocked that Tony Sewell's honorary degree had been withdrawn by the University of Nottingham. About 60 MPs had signed a letter to the university and they would not let the issue lie. Did the witnesses think the Free Speech Bill went far enough?

Nicola Dandridge said the bill was certainly needed and the OfS would be working with government to ensure it was implemented. It gave significant new powers to promote and protect free speech. 

Replying to Miriam Cates MP (Conservative, Penistone and Stocksbridge), Clare Merchant said UCAS encouraged an inclusive atmosphere when students arrived at universities. Protecting their feelings was less an issue than putting them in touch with support. Quintin McKellar agreed that the whole sector was behind freedom of speech. 

Kim Johnson MP (Labour, Liverpool, Riverside) referred to the UCU's opposition to the bill, which it described as 'draconian.' Nicola Dandridge said the bill addressed serious challenges and there was a serious response to them. Debra Humphris did not think the bill was a threat to institutional autonomy. Clare Merchant commented that although the NUS was not present at the meeting, students' voices would be heard on the issue.