Rishi Sunak vows to tackle 'alarming' uptick in anti
Rishi Sunak will this week tackle the 'alarming uptick' in anti-Semitism at UK universities.
The Prime Minister will call university leaders to Downing Street to discuss the issue and how to stop US-style campus protests spreading to the UK.
It comes amid violent demonstrations at US universities as well as a rise in reports of intimidation and abuse towards Jewish students in the UK.
This week students have set up protests and 'encampments' across the country, with both pro-Palestine and pro-Israel demonstrators at UCL taking action on Saturday.
Last week the Union of Jewish Students, which is due to attend the event at No 10, said Jewish students were angry, tired and hurt by 'the continuous torrent of anti-Semitic hatred on campus' since the October 7 attacks on Israel.
Pro-Palestine protestors at UCL's main campus calling for a ceasefire
This week students have set up protests and 'encampments' across the country, with both pro-Palestine and pro-Israel demonstrators at UCL taking action on Saturday
Police officers attend the pro-Palestine protest at UCL on Saturday
Protestors gather and chant through a megaphone at the pro-Palestine protest at UCL
Last night Mr Sunak took aim at Goldsmiths, part of London University, after reports that it had 'caved in' to student demands by reviewing how anti-Semitism was defined on campus.
The Prime Minister said: 'This kind of appeasement sends the wrong message. There must be no pandering to student occupations, and a vocal and aggressive minority must not be allowed to intimidate other students or academics.'
Mr Sunak insisted that the UK was 'a country of kind, tolerant people' and that British university campuses 'should be places of rigorous debate but also bastions of tolerance and respect for every member of their communities'.
But he said he had been 'alarmed' by scenes in recent months, adding: 'There has been a shocking uptick of anti-Semitism on too many university campuses.'
The pro-Israel side at the protest at UCL on Saturday
Police officers keep the pro-Israel and pro-Palestine protestors apart at UCL on Saturday
Pro-Israel supporters hold posters reading 'rape is not resistance' and ones calling for the return of the hostages
Some minor confrontations occur at the pro-Israel and pro-Palestine protest on Saturday
At this week's meeting, the PM will make clear that universities must take immediate disciplinary action if any student is found to be inciting racial hatred or violence.
They must also contact the police where they believe a crime has been committed.
Communities Secretary Michael Gove and Education Secretary Gillian Keegan are expected to join him at the meeting.
Ms Keegan will write to vice chancellors, setting out how the Government expects Jewish students to be supported.