British universities are under mounting pressure to confront a surge in antisemitic incidents, after a deadly attack at a Manchester synagogue and a series of high-profile controversies have left many Jewish students feeling unsafe on campus. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson, speaking in the wake of these events, has called for urgent and decisive action across the higher education sector, unveiling a suite of new measures aimed at stamping out antisemitism and protecting Jewish communities at universities.
"One instance of antisemitic abuse is one too many," Phillipson declared, according to Reuters. "So I’m clear: the buck stops with universities when it comes to ridding their campuses of hate – and they have my full backing to use their powers to do so." Her comments follow a letter sent to vice chancellors across the country, in which she urged institutions to take "practical and proportionate steps" to ensure campuses remain safe spaces for all students, while continuing to safeguard lawful free speech and peaceful protest.
The catalyst for this renewed focus came on October 2, 2025, when a British man of Syrian descent, identified as Jihad Al-Shamie, drove a car into pedestrians and then began stabbing several people outside Manchester’s Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar. The attack left two men, Adrian Daulby and Melvin Cravitz, dead. This shocking incident has reverberated across the country, intensifying concerns about rising antisemitism and the safety of Jewish communities.
According to the Community Security Trust (CST), a charity that provides security for Jewish organizations in the UK, the past year saw more than 3,500 antisemitic incidents recorded – the second highest total in modern British history. The university sector has been particularly affected, with a 117 percent increase in campus-related antisemitic incidents over the past two academic years. Data from the British interior ministry further underscores the severity of the problem: Jews suffered the highest rate of religious hate crimes in England and Wales in the year to March 2025.
Phillipson’s letter to university leaders emphasized that institutions not only have a duty to keep Jewish students safe, but also play a critical role as "anchors to the communities they serve." She made clear that universities failing to uphold these responsibilities could face significant consequences, including fines or even the loss of public funding, as enforced by the Office for Students, the independent regulator of UK educational institutions.
In response to these alarming trends, the government has announced a comprehensive plan to tackle antisemitism and misinformation on campus. The Union of Jewish Students is set to deliver 600 training sessions designed to help university staff support students, identify harassment and hate, and facilitate open, respectful debate. Thousands of teachers and young people will also receive training on how to spot and challenge antisemitism and misinformation online.
"Universities have powers to take action to prevent harassment and intimidation," Phillipson told the BBC. She added, "I’ve been clear with university vice-chancellors that I expect them to prioritize attending that training for their security staff in particular, who often manage relationships between students and the police." While she stopped short of making the training compulsory, she insisted that university staff must "prioritize attending" these sessions to ensure the safety and well-being of all students.
New, stronger requirements introduced in August 2025 now mandate that universities have clear policies to prevent and tackle harassment of all kinds. These include robust reporting mechanisms, appropriate support services, and comprehensive training for both students and staff. The government has also confirmed that the Holocaust Educational Trust will lead a £2 million program to ensure secondary school pupils in England learn about the Holocaust through survivor testimony and immersive virtual reality experiences. Separately, a £4 million fund will support projects promoting interfaith understanding and teaching young people how to identify misinformation online.
The need for such measures has been highlighted not only by the recent violence in Manchester, but also by a series of controversies on university campuses and in the wider public sphere. The Jewish Representative Council (JRC) of Greater Manchester criticized the lack of response from a concert venue following the October 2 synagogue attack, after the venue was scheduled to host a performance by the rap duo Bob Vylan. The group’s member had previously chanted "death, death to the IDF (Israel Defence Forces)" at the Glastonbury music festival, an act that was broadcast live by the BBC. The JRC called for the performance to be cancelled, arguing the artist had "repeatedly engaged in rhetoric that crosses the line from legitimate political discourse into antisemitism and incitement." BBC director-general Tim Davie later described the decision to air the set as "a very significant mistake," labeling the performance "antisemitic" and "deeply disturbing."
The debate over the boundaries between free speech, protest, and hate speech has grown increasingly heated. Conservative shadow foreign secretary Priti Patel, speaking to the BBC, said the Labour government should be "gripping" antisemitism in the UK, including what she called "hate marches where people are being so racist to the Jewish community." Patel pointed to large pro-Palestinian rallies in London, which she described as "ugly protests" that demonstrate "division and hatred" in society. The demonstrations, which included slogans such as "stop arming Israel" and "free Palestine," took place days after the Manchester synagogue attack and were accompanied by a small group of pro-Israeli counter-protesters. The Metropolitan Police reported 14 arrests for offences including breaching Public Order Act conditions, affray, and supporting a proscribed group.
Organizers of the pro-Palestinian marches, such as the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, have insisted their aim is to show solidarity with the Palestinian people and to call for freedom and justice for Palestine. Ben Jamal, director of the campaign, stated, "This is a movement supported by millions of people in this country and around the world who want freedom and justice for Palestine."
Phillipson has acknowledged the complexity of balancing free expression with the need to protect students from hate and harassment. "There is a vital distinction between legitimate criticism of the Israeli government and speech that veers into antisemitism," she wrote. The government’s new measures are designed to support both the right to peaceful protest and the imperative to shield students from hate.
As universities roll out new training and reporting protocols, the hope is that campuses will once again become safe spaces where all students, regardless of background, can learn and thrive. The coming months will test the effectiveness of these policies and the resolve of Britain’s higher education sector to face down antisemitism in all its forms.
