Rishi Sunak is to summon university vice-chancellors to Downing Street to discuss how Jewish students can be protected on campus amid “unacceptable” behaviour.
The UK Prime Minister also warned “mob rule is replacing democratic rule” in Britain, telling police chiefs there needs to be a tougher stance on “intimidation” stemming from protest marches against the war in Gaza.
The moves come after concerns were raised about the policing of marches where demonstrators have used anti-Semitic placards and chants, as well as the targeting of politicians.
A rise in racist attacks meant that “the whole fabric of our nation is under threat”, Mr Sunak said in a speech at the annual dinner of the Community Security Trust (CST) – a charity protecting Jewish communities in Britain – on Wednesday evening.
He said he intended to tackle anti-Muslim hatred as well as anti-Semitism.
He warned that the situation at UK universities is “not acceptable”, giving examples including “Iranian generals giving anti-Semitic speeches”.
People were abusing the right to freedom of speech “as a cover for hate speech”, he warned.
He said Jewish students were being “targeted, threatened, and assaulted simply for being Jewish” and said a chaplain at the University of Leeds had to take his family into hiding after death threats because he is an Israeli military reservist.
“Where people break the law on our campuses they will be met with the full consequences,” Mr Sunak said.
“And where they create a culture of intimidation we will hold the university leadership to account. University leaders must take personal responsibility for protecting Jewish students in their institutions.”
Vice Chancellors of the country’s leading universities would be called in to meet in Downing Street to discuss exactly how that could be achieved, he said.
In a bid to tackle the “utterly sickening” rise in anti-Semitism seen in recent months, the Prime Minister announced funding to provide security guards, CCTV and alarm systems at Jewish community sites.
The Home Office has said the announcement of £54 million ($68.2 million) consists of new funding for the CST to provide the security measures until 2028, in addition to £18 million previously allocated to the charity for 2024-2025. Extra funding has also been provided to increase protection of MPs.
Mr Sunak said “hateful narratives” would be called out and greater investment made in interfaith work to build greater community cohesion and understanding.
He hit out at protest marches held in UK cities since October 7 that left “Jewish families feeling unable to enter the centre of our capital city at the weekend”.
He said he would not allow a pattern of increasingly violent and intimidating behaviour to shout down elected representatives.
Marching and protesting “with passion” to demand the protection of civilian life was allowed but not calling for violent acts or beaming “anti-Semitic tropes on to Big Ben”, referring to an incident in Westminster last week while MPs were debating a motion calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.
There was no cause to justify the support of proscribed terrorist groups, including Hamas, Mr Sunak said.
“Yes, you can freely criticise the actions of this government, the Israeli government or indeed any government," he added. “But no, you cannot use that as an excuse to call for the eradication of a state – or any kind of hatred or anti-Semitism.”
Hamas’s attack on Israel in October raised community tensions in the UK, where pro-Palestinian protests as well as counter rallies have been held regularly in cities across the country.
Protests have also been staged outside MPs' homes.
House of Commons Speaker Lindsay Hoyle changed parliamentary rules last week to allow a vote on a Labour amendment on a ceasefire in Gaza, which he said was based on concern over MPs’ safety – sparking chaos in the chamber. This led to a warning from Mr Sunak that Parliament should never be intimidated by “extremists”.
The Prime Minister has discussed a new “democratic policing protocol” with police chiefs, which would see more patrols and “provides clarity that protests at elected representatives' homes should be treated as intimidatory”.
He spoke with senior officers at a meeting in Downing Street on Wednesday afternoon alongside Home Secretary James Cleverly.
Mr Sunak said: “There is a growing consensus that mob rule is replacing democratic rule. And we've got to collectively, all of us, change that urgently.”
He continued: “But we also need to demonstrate more broadly to the public that you will use the powers you already have, the laws that you have. I am going to do whatever it requires to protect our democracy and our values that we all hold dear.”
Protest outside UK Parliament calls for Gaza ceasefire – in pictures
The new rules, known as the Democratic Policing Protocol, provide “clarity that protests at elected representatives’ homes should be treated as intimidatory”, Mr Sunak said. Police have “adequate powers” to direct protesters away, the protocol states.
The new security package will enhance police protection as well as helping to fund private security guards for those facing a higher risk.
It will ensure all elected representatives and candidates have a dedicated named police contact to liaise with on security matters.
The Home Secretary this week questioned whether holding regular pro-Palestinian marches “adds value” to protesters' calls for an immediate ceasefire, saying they “made their point”.
Mr Cleverly questioned what future demonstrations in support of ending the violence in Gaza hoped to achieve, given the Conservative government was in “disagreement” with their position.
“They have made their position clear, we recognise that there are many people in the UK that hold that position. We respect that, but the UK government’s position is a disagreement with that for very practical, well thought-out reasons,” he said.
The government says it supports an immediate humanitarian pause in the fighting, but says a permanent ceasefire can only happen if Hamas frees all Israeli hostages and relinquishes control of Gaza.
Ben Jamal, director of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, which has organised many protests, said Mr Cleverly’s comments showed the government did not understand the role of protest “as an important part of the democratic process”.
“They regard it as a hindrance, something that should be suppressed,” Mr Jamal said.
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
The view from The National
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs
Engine: 2.2-litre, turbodiesel
Transmission: 6-speed auto
Power: 160hp
Torque: 385Nm
Price: Dh116,900
On sale: now
Director: Laxman Utekar
Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna
Rating: 1/5
The Brutalist
Director: Brady Corbet
Stars: Adrien Brody, Felicity Jones, Guy Pearce, Joe Alwyn
Rating: 3.5/5
The more serious side of specialty coffee
While the taste of beans and freshness of roast is paramount to the specialty coffee scene, so is sustainability and workers’ rights.
The bulk of genuine specialty coffee companies aim to improve on these elements in every stage of production via direct relationships with farmers. For instance, Mokha 1450 on Al Wasl Road strives to work predominantly with women-owned and -operated coffee organisations, including female farmers in the Sabree mountains of Yemen.
Because, as the boutique’s owner, Garfield Kerr, points out: “women represent over 90 per cent of the coffee value chain, but are woefully underrepresented in less than 10 per cent of ownership and management throughout the global coffee industry.”
One of the UAE’s largest suppliers of green (meaning not-yet-roasted) beans, Raw Coffee, is a founding member of the Partnership of Gender Equity, which aims to empower female coffee farmers and harvesters.
Also, globally, many companies have found the perfect way to recycle old coffee grounds: they create the perfect fertile soil in which to grow mushrooms.
Racecard
5.25pm: Etihad Museum – Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (Turf) 1,200m
6pm: Al Shindaga Museum – Handicap (TB) Dh87,500 (Dirt) 1,200m
6.35pm: Poet Al Oqaili – Handicap (TB) Dh95,000 (T) 1,400m
7.10pm: Majlis Ghurfat Al Sheif – Handicap (TB) Dh87,500 (D) 1,600m
7.45pm: Hatta – Handicap (TB) Dh95,000 (T) 1,400m
8.20pm: Al Fahidi – Rated Conditions (TB) Dh87,500 (D) 2,200m
8.55pm: Zabeel Trophy – Rated Conditions (TB) Dh120,000 (T) 1,600m
9.30pm: Coins Museum – Rated Conditions (TB) Dh95,000 (D) 1,600m
10.05pm: Al Quoz Creative – Handicap (TB) Dh95,000 (T) 1,000m
The biog
Name: Sarah Al Senaani
Age: 35
Martial status: Married with three children - aged 8, 6 and 2
Education: Masters of arts in cultural communication and tourism
Favourite movie: Captain Corelli’s Mandolin
Favourite hobbies: Art and horseback ridding
Occupation: Communication specialist at a government agency and the owner of Atelier
Favourite cuisine: Definitely Emirati - harees is my favourite dish
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
UK-EU trade at a glance
EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years
Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products
Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries
Smoother border management with use of e-gates
Cutting red tape on import and export of food
The five pillars of Islam
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
What you as a drone operator need to know
A permit and licence is required to fly a drone legally in Dubai.
Sanad Academy is the United Arab Emirate’s first RPA (Remotely Piloted Aircraft) training and certification specialists endorsed by the Dubai Civil Aviation authority.
It is responsible to train, test and certify drone operators and drones in UAE with DCAA Endorsement.
“We are teaching people how to fly in accordance with the laws of the UAE,” said Ahmad Al Hamadi, a trainer at Sanad.
“We can show how the aircraft work and how they are operated. They are relatively easy to use, but they need responsible pilots.
“Pilots have to be mature. They are given a map of where they can and can’t fly in the UAE and we make these points clear in the lectures we give.
“You cannot fly a drone without registration under any circumstances.”
Larger drones are harder to fly, and have a different response to location control. There are no brakes in the air, so the larger drones have more power.
The Sanad Academy has a designated area to fly off the Al Ain Road near Skydive Dubai to show pilots how to fly responsibly.
“As UAS technology becomes mainstream, it is important to build wider awareness on how to integrate it into commerce and our personal lives,” said Major General Abdulla Khalifa Al Marri, Commander-in-Chief, Dubai Police.
“Operators must undergo proper training and certification to ensure safety and compliance.
“Dubai’s airspace will undoubtedly experience increased traffic as UAS innovations become commonplace, the Forum allows commercial users to learn of best practice applications to implement UAS safely and legally, while benefitting a whole range of industries.”
All%20We%20Imagine%20as%20Light
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EPayal%20Kapadia%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Kani%20Kusruti%2C%20Divya%20Prabha%2C%20Chhaya%20Kadam%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Transmission: ten-speed
Power: 420bhp
Torque: 624Nm
Price: Dh325,125
On sale: Now
Results
Ashraf Ghani 50.64 per cent
Abdullah Abdullah 39.52 per cent
Gulbuddin Hekmatyar 3.85 per cent
Rahmatullah Nabil 1.8 per cent
