RAF forced to axe stalls at university job fairs over security concerns from student activists

Reports have emerged that RAF was forced to shut down its stall early in one case, and in another leave it temporarily amid security fears.

This came as The Times revealed that around 20 defence firms were stopped from attending career fairs and university events because of safety concerns.

Lord Walney, the Government’s independent adviser on political violence and disruption, wrote to ministers warning that this trend could “seriously undermine our nation’s security and technical edge”.

He claimed that it “underscored this significant threat to our national skills pipeline when the UK’s defence capacity must expand to meet emerging global threats”.

In his letter, the adviser pushed the secretaries of state for defence, business and education to set up a ministerial working group to help ensure defence companies could attend university career fairs without fear.

He said the group could find a way to balance freedom of expression with public order, safeguarding the national skills pipeline.

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Aside from the RAF, protesters have also targeted defence companies such as BAE systems and Airbus.

In October, protest group Newcastle Apartheid Off Campus claimed it “shut down” a careers fair on campus, with a social media video showing protesters blocking a university doorway and holding a Palestinian flag.

The month before, the same group forced the RAF to shut down its stall at the university, writing on Instagram: “We shut the RAF down!!!

“Our university decided to invite the very people bombing our brothers and sisters in Yemen, aiding the bombing in Gaza and the occupiers of Cyprus. SHAME!”

A senior RAF source said personnel at the fair made the right decision to close down the stall before the situation escalated further. The source added: “Clearly, questions on the responsibility for the security of such events are for the organisers to answer.”

The GE Aerospace, RAF and BAE Systems stalls at Glasgow University also faced protests in October, with students surrounding the stalls holding a banner that read “Drop arms companies”.

According to reports from The Glasgow Guardian, the people manning the stalls packed up their things and left, however, an RAF source said the team went to a cafe while security intervened, and returned to their stall once protesters left.

In an Instagram post, the Glasgow University Justice for Palestine Society wrote: “The students managed to kick out BAE Systems, RAF and CGI. Shame on Glasgow University, we continue to demand divestment and cutting all ties with these genocidal companies.”

Also in October, pro-Palestine groups targeted the RAF and other defence companies at York University and Cardiff University.

Last week, The Times revealed how employees of some companies, including young members of staff acting as Stem ambassadors, have been harassed and intimidated on campus by protesters.

A senior RAF source said ensuring the security of these events lies with the organisers, emphasising that the RAF “respects everyone’s right to protest peacefully and continues to defend the UK to ensure our citizens have the freedom to do so in our free and democratic society”.

The source suggested the protests had not been raised as a serious issue within the Ministry of Defence.