Wes Streeting: NUS at ‘one of the lowest points in its history’ over Jewish students

Labour’s Wes Streeting has insisted the National Union of Students has reached “one of its lowest points in its history” over the current crisis in relations with Jewish students.

The shadow health secretary, himself a former president of the NUS, told Jewish News that he believed “Corbynism has left a long legacy, including poisoning the well of the student movement.

Streeting, who was out campaigning for his party in Barnet on Sunday ahead the May local elections, added that in his view “Jewish students are being failed completely by the tin-eared response from the NUS leadership.”

Elected NUS president in 2008, Streeting said that since becoming the Ilford North MP he had tried not to provide a running commentary on the student body because “it is for each generation of leaders to set their priorities.”

But he continued: “I just don’t feel I can stay silent when you have got such obvious problems.”

And in a direct message to the current NUS leadership he said: “It should never be for the Union of Jewish Students to fight antisemitism alone.

“I would appeal to student unions who ultimately call the shots in the NUS, whether in policy terms, or the people they elect to lead the organisation.

“Student unions need to really get a grip on this and take NUS back.”

Asked how much of what has happened to the NUS in relation to Jewish students was a legacy of the leadership of Jeremy Corbyn, which oversaw the closure of moderate organisations such as Labour Students, Streeting said: “I think Corbynism has left a long legacy including poisoning the well of the student movement.

“It really breaks my heart that an organisation that has throughout its history played a leading role in the fight against antisemitism has fallen so spectacularly short.

“And I’d say to the NUS leadership, when the UJS tells you you’ve got a problem with Jewish students, believe them and work with them.

“This is the NUS centenary year, the 100th anniversary, I think its deeply depressing that NUS centenary coincides with one of the lowest points in its history.”

Streeting was in Barnet on Sunday morning, joining Josh Tapper, the former Gogglebox star, who is standing in the Edgwarebury ward, for a campaign session ahead of the May local elections.

In a wider interview, to be published later this week, Streeting spoke to Jewish News on his belief he can improve the NHS for all in society, including the Jewish community, on Sir Keir Starmer’s battle against antisemitism in Labour, and on his own political ambitions.

Last week Jewish News revealed how the NUS leadership – including current president Larissa Kennedy – had “quietly dropped” support for the IHRA definition.

The rapper and conspiracy theorist Lowkey was also recruited to help launch a key NUS campaign riddled with anti-Zionist material.

Lowkey was also meant to perform at an NUS centenary event late this month, which led to protests from the UJS, and a statement confirming the rapper had pulled out of the event.