NUS row: 20 ex-presidents sign letter expressing safety fears for Jewish students
Unprecedented warning - sent to NUS trustees and current president Larissa Kennedy - is signed by ex-cabinet ministers, Wes Streeting , Trevor Phillips and David Aaronovitch
Lee Harpin is the Jewish News's political editor
More than 20 former leaders of the National Union of Students have signed a warning letter sent to president Larissa Kennedy and the organisation’s trustees expressing “serious concerns” about the “safety and treatment of Jewish” undergraduates.
The letter, which has been leaked to Jewish News, has gained the support of 22 former NUS presidents – including Labour cabinet ministers Jack Straw, Charles Clarke, the MP and former BICOM head Lorna Fitzsimons, current shadow health secretary Wes Streeting, and Sky News host Trevor Phillips.
The sternly worded warning – signed also by columnist David Aaronovitch and former Labour MPs Phil Woolas and Stephen Twigg – states:”We are writing to you privately as former Presidents with serious concerns about antisemitism, the safety and treatment of Jewish students at NUS events and within your democracy, and the way in which the NUS is responding to these concerns.”
The letter refers to the decision to invite the conspiracy theorist and rapper Lowkey to give “a keynote at NUS conference”. It also notes how NUS representatives failed to attend a recent session of the Education Select Committee Westminster, to face questions over antisemitism on campus.
It calls on the President and the trustees “to act urgently” and issue “a full and unreserved apology” to Jewish students and the Union of Jewish Students.
It then demands an independent investigation is launched “into antisemitism within the organisation.”
The signatories suggest it is “crucial” the NUS “rebuild relationships and trust with Jewish students.”
They state they continue to “love the NUS and want you to succeed for all students.”
But the letter warns:”This is not just a matter of protecting NUS’ reputation, but honouring NUS’ proud anti-racist principles.”
The impressive list of signatories of the letter stretch back into the 1960s, with Jack Straw having been NUS leader between 1969-71.
Other names include Baroness Maeve Sherlock and Liam Burns.
The letter emerged after the NUS board called a crisis meeting to take place on Wednesday over the rift with Jewish students.
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