Reform UK’s Braverman: Universities plagued by cancel culture and antisemitism

Britain’s universities have become “hotbeds of cancel culture and antisemitism,” Suella Braverman claimed as she was confirmed as Reform UK’s new education spokesperson.

At a London event where Nigel Farage unveiled some of his top-team, Braverman delivered a scathing assessment of the higher education sector.

“To those universities that have descended into hotbeds of cancel culture, antisemitism, and which survive really thanks to the cash of foreign students and keep conning young people into worthless degrees, Reform is putting you on notice,” she declared.

Braverman also launched a fierce attack on diversity, equality, and inclusion (DEI) policies, arguing that they are dividing rather than uniting the country. “Britain is being ripped apart by diversity, equality and inclusion, because the truth is that DEI has become less about diversity and more about conforming to left-wing ideology, less about equality and more about prejudice against white people, less about inclusion and more about exclusion of those who dare to challenge the dogma,” she said.

Highlighting what she called systemic failures, Braverman questioned why it was “acceptable for white Christian men to be discriminated against by the Sentencing Council” and condemned authorities for “turning a blind eye when thousands of white working-class girls were being systematically raped by largely Pakistani Muslim grooming gangs.”

She continued, “Why does no one in this Government seem to care that it’s white working-class boys who have the worst educational outcomes in our country today?”

Braverman also called for a major shift away from university-focused education policy. “Instead of Tony Blair’s 50% of young people going to university, we need Nigel Farage’s 50% going into the trades. That’s what will produce the next generation of carpenters, electricians, and technicians that our country is crying out for. These are not lesser callings — these are noble professions, and these will be the people who rebuild Britain.”

If Reform UK wins the next election, Braverman pledged the party would “repeal the Equality Act” on day one. “Do you know what a Reform government will do? Well, on day one, we will get rid of the equalities department, and we will scrap the equalities minister.”

“And we will repeal the Equality Act, because we are going to work to build a country defined by meritocracy, not tokenism, personal responsibility, not victimhood, excellence, not mediocrity, and unity, not division,” she added.

Nigel Farage, meanwhile, insisted Reform UK is “the voice of opposition to this Government” as he announced Richard Tice and Robert Jenrick in front-bench positions. Tice would serve as deputy prime minister if the party wins, while Jenrick was given the Treasury brief.

Zia Yusuf was named Reform UK’s home affairs spokesperson, with Farage stressing that he “will not tolerate dissent” in public among senior figures.

Farage also dismissed a poll suggesting Rupert Lowe’s new far-right Restore Britain party was on 10% as “utter rot,” though he speculated that Elon Musk might support the ex-Reform UK MP. However, Farage said he could not back Lowe’s proposal for entire communities to be deported from the UK.