Rishi Sunak has summoned UK vice-chancellors to Downing Street to discuss antisemitic abuse on campuses, telling universities they must take ¡°immediate disciplinary action¡± against students found to be inciting racial hatred or violence.

Amid signs that pro-Palestinian protests that have spread across the US are gaining traction in the UK as well, the prime minister said he would hold a meeting at No 10 featuring leaders of some of the country¡¯s leading universities on 9 May.

Mr Sunak said a ¡°vocal minority¡± of students were ¡°disrupting the lives and studies of their fellow students and, in some cases, propagating outright harassment and antisemitic abuse¡±, adding: ¡°That has to stop¡±.

Downing Street said the government has ¡°made clear that debate and the open exchange of views in universities is essential, but that this can never tip over into hate speech, harassment or incitement of violence¡±.

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The prime minister¡¯s office highlighted comments made by the Union of Jewish Students (UJS), which have said there is a ¡°toxic environment¡± on campuses currently, and research by the Communities Security Trust that showed there was a 203 per cent increase in university-related antisemitic incidents between 2022 and 2023.

Gillian Keegan, the education secretary, will also join the meeting alongside representatives from the UJS, who will share their experiences.

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¡°I have made it absolutely clear that universities must crack down on antisemitic abuse and ensure that protests do not unduly disrupt university life,¡± Ms Keegan, who also wrote to vice-chancellors on Sunday about their support for Jewish students, said.

Both Mr Sunak and Ms Keegan said they would call on university leaders to ¡°ensure a zero-tolerance approach to antisemitic abuse is adopted on all campuses¡±.?

This should include ¡°immediate disciplinary action if any student is found to be inciting racial hatred or violence¡±, and universities are expected to ¡°contact the police where they believe a criminal act has been committed¡±.?

Vice-chancellors attending the meeting will be invited to give their views on upcoming government guidance on combating antisemitism on campus.

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No 10 said the Office for Students (OfS) has also committed to publishing its long-awaited response to a consultation held last year on whether it will impose a new condition of registration on providers, relating to sexual misconduct and harassment, including antisemitic abuse.

This would require institutions to publish a document outlining the steps they will take to protect students and hand the regulator new powers to impose sanctions where ¡°there is clear evidence that universities are failing to take sufficient or appropriate action to tackle harassment¡±.

tom.williams@timeshighereducation.com