‘Students should NOT be able to dictate!’ Matt Goodwin rages at Gaza uni protests in fiery debate

Matt Goodwin has hit out at the trend that first became prevalent in the US as young people make their feelings clear on the Israel-Gaza conflict.

“I’m very comfortable with students being able to exercise their free speech and their free expression on campus to say what they really think about these issues”, said Goodwin.

“But what I don't think students should be able to dictate the policies of a university, or indeed a democratically elected government.

“They should certainly not be able to disrupt university buildings, the teaching of other students, which we’ve seen in the US.

“They shouldn’t be able to work with outside agitators to undermine the universities and I think underlying the anti-Israel protests is this very corrosive identity politics which is now permeating universities across the West.”

Lis argued back to say it’s a “small minority” of people who are using racist tropes and hit out at the Government for taking measures to tackle the trend.

“I am wary about this”, he said.

“We have to deal with hateful speech but students have an absolute right to express whatever opinions.

“When you listen to these students, they have extremely nuanced views.

“A lot of these demands are reasonable.”

It comes after the leader of a Jewish group called for university leaders to ensure “red lines” are drawn between free speech and inciting violence.

Edward Isaacs, president of the Union of Jewish Students (UJS), urged universities to take “swift and decisive action” to protect Jewish students.

Vice-chancellors from a number of leading UK universities were summoned to a meeting with the Prime Minister at No 10 on Thursday to discuss antisemitism on campuses and keeping Jewish students safe.

Rishi Sunak called for universities to remain “bastions of tolerance” during the roundtable with vice-chancellors.