Nickie Aiken, Member of Parliament for the Cities of London & Westminster, spoke out in Parliament following the report that Jewish students faced a hostile culture within the National Union of Students.
Sadly, it was a report which reiterated comments Nickie has repeatedly heard when speaking to Jewish students at universities within the Two Cities. Students have told her Nickie, often on a daily basis, they have suffered from antisemitism, and how it has gone unchallenged by the student union.
In the House of Commons, Nickie said,
"When I met Jewish students studying in universities in my constituency, I was appalled to learn of the antisemitism they have to suffer, often on a daily basis. That was made worse by the recent report into the National Union of Students’ handling and challenging of antisemitism. In the month when we mark Holocaust Memorial Day, I would be interested to hear the Minister’s assessment of that NUS report."
Responding, Minister for Higher Education, Robert Halfon MP, said,
"I have been shocked and sobered by reading that report that the NUS was in essence a hostile place for Jewish students. That is not acceptable. The National Union of Students, the main body for students, should be a place that is not just safe but welcoming for Jewish students. The proof of the pudding with this report will be in the eating; I expect to see the changes and the recommendations implemented in full, and once that has occurred I will re-engage with the National Union of Students."
