Government cuts NUS funds over allegations of anti-Semitism

Alternative representation such as the Office for Students will be offered to students and all government funding to the NUS will be suspended.

NUS will also be removed from all Department of Education groups.

In April, the NUS announced that it would open itself to an independent inquiry into a series of complaints from Jewish students.

The National Union of Students is a federation of British student unions and represents around 95 per cent of the country’s higher education institutions.

The NUS represents the interests of more than seven million students in 600 student unions in the UK.

In 2016, Malia Bouattia was elected President of the NUS but faced accusations of anti-Semitism and condemnation from hundreds of Jewish student leaders.

After their election, the universities of Newcastle, Hull, Loughborough and Portsmouth left the NIS.

Antisemitism is a prejudice against ethnic and religious Jews.

The International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance defines antisemitism as: “A particular perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred towards Jews.

“Rhetorical and physical expressions of antisemitism are directed against Jewish or non-Jewish persons and/or their property, against Jewish community institutions and religious institutions.”

Jews have been persecuted as a religious minority in the UK and around the world for centuries and have been the subject of conspiracy theories about controlling the world’s wealth.

The DfE previously criticized the NUS’s “unacceptable response” to complaints about its decision to invite rapper Lowkey to its 2022 conference.

The pro-Palestinian rapper was accused of making statements that were considered anti-Semitic.

In addition, Shaima Dallali was elected the new leader of the NUS earlier this year and had posted several tweets that angered groups fighting anti-Semitism.

After Dallali was elected, the Union of Jewish Students said: Jewish students have spoken to us and expressed concern about much of the messages Dallali has posted on her social media in the past, attacking the Jewish community, UJS, and Speakers with extreme challenges have supported views.”

One of Dallali’s tweets, about which students expressed concern, was posted ten years ago and read: “Khaybar Khaybar O Jews… Mohammed’s army will give Gaza back”.

This was a reference to a 7th-century Muslim attack on Jews in Khaybar, modern-day Saudi Arabia — Dallali has since apologized for the tweet.

Michelle Donelan, Minister of State for Higher Education and Further Education, said: “Enough is enough. I have been preparing a package of sanctions against prosecuting incidents for many years.

“Disappointed that it has come to this, but proud to support Jewish students. NUS will not have a seat at the table until we see real change.”

Education Minister Nadhim Zahawi said: “I am seriously concerned to hear so many reports of alleged anti-Semitism related to the NIS.

“Jewish students need to have confidence that this is a body that represents them and we need to be sure that the student bodies we deal with speak fairly for all students, which is why we are separating from the NUS until the problems have been addressed.”

“Following the initial response from the NUS to our concerns, I am confident that they are keen to take action and welcome further updates from them. Anti-Semitism has no place in our society and we will eradicate it wherever it occurs.”