UK universities told to crack down

12/10/2025 5:57

British universities must take stronger action to protect Jewish students, after a deadly attack on a synagogue in northern England and amid concerns over antisemitism on campuses in Britain and the United States.



Young people must be equipped to spot and challenge misinformation online, urging universities to use every tool available to confront hate and division. "



One instance of antisemitic abuse is one too many," this according to education minister Bridget Phillipson.



Phililipson added "So I'm clear: the buck stops with universities when it comes to ridding their campuses of hate - and they have my full backing to use their powers to do so."



On October 2, a British man of Syrian descent drove a car into pedestrians and then began stabbing several people on Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish calendar, outside Manchester's Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue.



Two men died in the attack.



In the aftermath, Phillipson wrote to university vice-chancellors urging "practical and proportionate steps" to ensure campuses remain safe spaces. New rules introduced in August require institutions to have clear policies and reporting mechanisms to address harassment of all kinds.