Labour commits to £7 million fund to tackle campus antisemitism

Plans to spend £7 million on tackling antisemitism in schools, colleges and universities have been reprised by the education secretary Bridget Phillipson on the anniversary of the 7 October attacks in Israel.

The UK government committed to the programme after the number of incidents of antisemitic abuse on university campuses grew by 465 per cent in the first five months of 2024 compared with the same period a year earlier, following the Hamas attacks that killed approximately 1,200 Israelis.

The funding will aim to “educate people about antisemitism” and “better equip” universities to tackle antisemitic abuse. Some of the funds will go towards upskilling university staff, and the government will also pay for an “innovation fund” to tackle antisemitism in education and online antisemitic misinformation.

A further £500,000 of the funding has been awarded to the University Jewish Chaplaincy for welfare support for Jewish students in universities.

The funding was originally announced by former chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt over a period of three years, and was endorsed by then shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves.

Writing for The Daily Telegraph, Ms Phillipson said the government was “resolutely committed” to tackling antisemitic abuse. 

She said: “It is completely unacceptable for Jewish students to feel they cannot fully participate in university life out of fear for their safety. All students, regardless of race or religion, should be free to focus on their studies rather than worry about their safety.”

Jewish students across the country have reported increasing anti-Jewish sentiment on campuses, including complaints over student protests over Israel’s attacks on Gaza, which have since seen more than 40,000 Palestinians and 2,000 Lebanese civilians killed, and a shutdown of universities.

Ms Phillipson added that it is “vitally important that staff in our education system have the confidence and skills to act quickly to root out antisemitism as soon as it emerges”. 

juliette.rowsell@timeshighereducation.com