Ministers urge universities to prevent intimidation by pro-Palestine activists at career fairs
Three cabinet ministers urge main universities to take all necessary steps to prevent 'vocal minority' of students from disrupting UK defence industry recruitment at campus events
Three senior cabinet ministers have written to UK universities urging them not allow pro-Palestine and other anti-war activists to intimidate defence industry firm recruiters at career fairs.
In a strongly worded letter, signed by Defence Secretary John Healy, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson and Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds, university chiefs are urged to put in place “all necessary precautions” to ensure recruiters are not put off from appearing on campuses.
The Labour ministers suggest a “vocal minority of students” are currently being allowed to deprive the defence sector the opportunity to engage with potential new recruits at university fairs.
In a speech Healey also accused those who target UK defence firms, often with unproven allegations around supplying weaponary to Israel, of having “flawed” goals.
The Times reports that Healey told a dinner event hosted by the UK defence industry body ADS, that:”We don’t stop wars by boycotting our defence industry. We stop wars by backing it.”
Education Secretary Phillipson also put her name to the letter to Universities UK Vivienne Stern saying it is the “duty” of universities to ensure “talented people” are attracted in the UK defence sector.
Pro-Palestine campaigners have staged increasingly militant protests at campus fairs, and at defence industry events, making claims that UK firms are complicit in an alleged “genocide” in Gaza.
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