UK: 100 MPs and peers accuses Bristol Uni professor of ‘inciting hatred against Jewish students’

More than 100 MPs and Peers have signed a letter accusing Bristol University professor David Miller of “inciting hatred against Jewish students”.

The All Party Parliamentary Group Against Antisemitism (APPGAA) raised concerns over sociology lecturer David Miller, after a Jewish MP urged the government to intervene yesterday.

This comes after Professor David Miller accused Jewish students of running a “campaign of censorship” on behalf of the Israeli government. He also accused communal institutions, including the Union of Jewish Students and Board of Deputies of working for the ‘Israel lobby’, and being “pawns of a racist regime engaged in ethnic cleansing”.

Today, more than 100 parliamentarians from across both Houses of Parliament, members of seven political parties, independent and crossbench peers have written to @BristolUni calling for action on antisemitism. pic.twitter.com/6lXZ7dFMYq

— APPG Antisemitism (@APPGAA) March 4, 2021

Writing to the vice chancellor, the APPGAA’S co-chairs MPs Andrew Percy and Catherine McKinnell, and vice chair Lisa Cameron MP, accuse the Bristol University academic of “inciting hatred against Jewish students” on the campus.

Saying it has shown a “failure to act”, after the Bristol declined to take any measures after meeting Jewish student leaders, the MPs and peers say Miller has “undermined the safety and security of Jewish students under the pretence of free speech”. They also criticise almost 200 academics who undersigned a letter defending Miller.

They accuse Miller of believing an “antisemitic conspiracy fantasy”, saying he has “brought your university into disrepute. You must now act before any further damage is done.”