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Written question asked by Baroness Deech (Crossbench) on Friday, 24 October 2025, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Friday, 7 November 2025. It was answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern (Labour) on Tuesday, 4 November 2025 on behalf of the Department for Education.

Universities: Safety

Question

To ask His Majesty's Government, following reports of death threats made against a professor at City St George's, what steps they are taking to protect university professors from intimidation and violence, and to hold students who engage in violent or intimidating behaviour to account.

Answer

The campaign against a professor at City St George’s University is unacceptable. Antisemitic abuse has no place in our lecture halls, on campus or anywhere else.

Where a student has been found to be responsible for racially motivated harassment, intimidation or incitement to violence, the department expects universities to act swiftly and use the full force of their disciplinary powers, involving the police where necessary.

My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education, has written to the professor to offer her support, and senior officials have met with the Vice Chancellor. I am pleased that the University’s Senior Leadership Team has publicly affirmed its support for the professor and has taken swift steps to protect his safety on campus.

We are supporting universities to address antisemitism on campuses through the Tackling Antisemitism in Education programme, with Government-funded training for university staff commencing soon.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
HL11305
Session
2024-26
Subjects
Universities Safety Teachers Violence
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk