British Universities Minister Michelle Donelan told parliament’s Education Select Committee on Oct. 6. that the government will take action against universities that don’t adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of anti-Semitism.
Donelan said, “We are not seeing enough of these universities adopting the definition, it is not good enough. I am now looking at other measures that we can utilize to make it happen. My message today is to urge universities to do this or we are going to look for solutions to ensure that you do so.”
She didn’t specify what action the government would take against universities that decline to adopt the measures.
The Union for Jewish Students (UJS) praised Donelan.
“We have seen time after time universities are ignoring or refusing the requests by Jewish students and staff and the government to adopt the IHRA Definition of Antisemitism,” the group said in a statement. “We call on the government and universities to take effective action to ensure Jewish students are being protected by their universities. The adoption of the IHRA definition is the first step to ensure this protection.”
Sussex Friends of Israel similarly tweeted, “More British football clubs have adopted the #IHRA definition of antisemitism then have British Universities. Clearly we have very good football clubs and utterly disgusting universities.”
More British football clubs have adopted the #IHRA definition of antisemitism then have British Universities.
Clearly we have very good football clubs and utterly disgusting universities.
Shame on them
— Self Declared Zionists (@SussexFriends) October 6, 2020
In January, the Chelsea Football Club announced that it had adopted the IHRA definition of anti-Semitism; five other teams in the Premier League subsequently followed suit.
On Sept. 30, the UJS released a survey finding that only 20% of British universities have adopted the IHRA definition of anti-Semitism; 80% of the universities that haven’t adopted the definition have said that they won’t adopt it. British Community Secretary Robert Jenrick said at the time he was “extremely disappointed” in the results of the survey.
“Education is one of the most powerful tools we can use to combat anti-Semitism and adopting and actively using the IHRA definition of anti-Semitism sends a clear signal that Universities are serious about tackling antisemitism on campuses,” he said. “Some progress has been made since I urged all universities and the Higher Education Institutions adopt the IHRA definition, but I urge others to do so without delay. It is simply unacceptable that universities accept public money, but refuse to take this step.”
Jenrick has threatened to cut funding to universities that don’t adopt the IHRA definition.
