Expel students who threaten academics on campus, says John Mann

Government’s antisemitism adviser condemns masked protesters who disrupted lecture being given by Israeli economics professor

Published on
October 24, 2025
Last updated
October 24, 2025
Source: UK Parliament

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Reader's comments (9)

Follow student codes of conduct and civil rights/free speech laws. Period.
All universities should take decisive action on these types of acts rather than behave like a toothless tiger with verbal or written 'condemnation'. I agree with student misconduct investigations and expulsion (if found guilty). There is no place for such hooligan behaviour.
It is good that as academics we are taking a stand at last. But for too long we have sat back and allowed our colleagues who may or may not hold a different opinion over a series of issues, from ours to be harassed, hounded and bullied, often by masked individuals using coercive, even violent rhetoric and done nothing. Often we have simply caved in to this. Any comment from Jo O Grady or UCU on this? She's not usually shy about putting her opinions forward?
I had a look at the UCU website and "In the News Section" and there is not mention of this at all. I would have thought that this would be a very urgent and compelling issue for the Union, the safety of academics at work, the issuing of death threats, the disruption of academic events etc etc. Apologies if I missed it but I can't see any mention at all? What are we paying our due for I wonder?
Decisive action? You must be joking. If there is any it will be a first.
I think this is a bit of a straw man. I don't think you'll fine a single academic, or university leader anywhere that would not agree that students who make death threats against academics should not be expeled.
The only good TERF ......???? Masked student protesters on campus demanding that colleagues be sacked for holding entirely legal and honest opinions which are contrary to their own??? We allowed this kind of behavior on our campus and this is just the consequence in my view. I make these comments irrespective of the merits of the debate one way or another but just concerning the coercive way it was conducted and our shameful acceptance of this. Nothing will be done and it will get worse.
If you think that then you've not met that many academics. Why not pop along to your local University's English, History or Sociology departments. You'll find plenty of academics there who think threatening to kill a colleague is perfectly fine (so long as that colleague stands accused of wrongthink).
It does not matter that the target of such disgusting behaviour happened to be Jewish or that he'd fulfilled the obligation of citizens of Israel to undertake military service: students who behave like thugs, disrupting education, and threatening academics (or anyone else), should be kicked out forthwith!

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