Bristol University threatened with lawsuit over ‘end Zionism’ professor

Campaigners are threatening Bristol University with legal action over its controversial professor who accused the university Jewish Society of being “pawns of Israel.”

Prof David Miller caused widespread outrage across the community after inflammatory comments calling for an end to Zionism earlier this year.

At the time, the president of the university’s JSoc said he had been sent abuse of the results of the comments, while last month the Union of Jewish Students accused the university of failing in its duty of care to students.

Now Campaign Against Antisemitism says it plans to take legal action against the Russell Group university, alleging the professor’s comments “sought to create a hostile environment for Jewish students.”

The planned action will also claim that “that the university is liable for Prof. Miller’s conduct, and is further liable in its own right, for unlawful conduct in breach of the Equality Act, and for its breach of its contract with students.”

The group is asking for Jewish students who were at the university in the 2020/21 year to add their names to the legal action.

It comes after anger from student groups that a date has not been set for an investigation into Miller’s comments to conclude by university bosses.

More than 150 days have now passed since the investigation was announced. Bristol has refused to provide comment on the investigation’s process, citing legal reasons.

A Bristol University spokeswoman said that the university had not been aware of CAA’s involvement with the potential legal action until today, and that no legal proceedings had yet been issued.

“As we have previously confirmed, the University has instigated an investigation into the comments made by Professor David Miller,” she said.

“This action is in line with our internal procedures and involves a full investigation of the relevant facts and circumstances.

“While we cannot confirm what stage the investigation is at, we do recognise the importance for all parties of completing our internal procedures as soon as is reasonably possible.

“The University cannot address the potential legal action until it has completed its internal procedures.”