The Union of Jewish Students were hosted in Parliament by the APPG Against Antisemitism. They ran a hugely successful lobby meeting a record number of MPs – some 60 or so.
MPs were urged to highlight the need for more consistent approaches in the higher education sector to tackling hate speech on campus. The Manchester University speaker guidelines were used as an example of best practice. Many MPs agreed to contact Vice-Chancellors and signed an EDM tabled on the day of the lobby and available here.
The students heard from shadow higher education Minister Gareth Thomas and the Chief Rabbi Lord Sacks as well as John Mann MP, chair of the APPG Against Antisemitism. They spoke to MPs from across the political party spectrum and members of both Houses of Parliament. A small group also met with leader of the opposition, Rt Hon Ed Miliband MP, who tweeted the following:
..pleased to meet @UJS_UK students today,who are raising awareness of campus hate speech at their #UJSlobby of parliament today
Photos of the event appear below.
