University which banned beef now hosts 'Communist' summer school - £250 series of lecturers hosted by Communist Party

Phoebe Southworth
Goldsmiths which is part of the University of London  - PA
Goldsmiths which is part of the University of London - PA

A university which banned beef has been criticised for hosting a series of lectures organised by the Communist Party of Great Britain.

Goldsmiths, University of London will welcome controversial speakers including Tony Greenstein, a Jewish anti-Zionist and founding member of Palestine Solidarity Campaign, who was expelled from the Labour Party after using the term "Zionist scum" and accusing Zionists of "collaborating with the Nazis".

Also giving a talk at the summer school is activist Graham Bash, who has spoken at events by organisation Labour Against The Witch-hunt. The group campaigns against what it sees as unfair disciplinary action against party members over anti-Semitism allegations.

Mr Bash will discuss 'How can we transform the Labour Party into a vehicle of socialism?' and Mr Greenstein joins Moshe Machover to talk on the subject 'Israeli Jews: are they a Hebrew nation?'

Meanwhile Tina Werkmann, a supporter of Labour Party Marxists, will discuss 'Turning the tables on the witch-hunters'.

It comes just a few days after the university took burgers, lasagne, chilli and tacos off its campus menus in a bid to combat climate change.

The latest move has prompted accusations that Goldsmith is no longer a "safe space" for Jewish students and that it is "officially becoming a Communist university".

Campaign Against Antisemitism said it is deeply troubling that the university is “welcoming onto campus a number of individuals who have a history of baiting Jews or outright antisemitism”.

“This event makes a mockery of the Communist Party’s promise to show solidarity to all peoples. Instead of using their publicly-funded facilities to host people who peddle hate, Goldsmiths University should be refusing to allow this event on its campus,” Binyomin Gilbert, Campaign Against Antisemitism project manager said.

Protesters during the demonstration organised by the Campaign Against Antisemitism outside the Labour Party headquarters in 2018 - Credit: PA
Protesters during the demonstration organised by the Campaign Against Antisemitism outside the Labour Party headquarters in 2018 Credit: PA

One person wrote on social media in response to the announcement: "Another university off the list. @GoldsmithsUoL  would not be safe for people of Jewish heritage."

Another said: "Goldsmiths goes Red. Makes sense these bozos just banned beef from the campus."

The university pointed out that the event was a longstanding commercial booking and not organised by Goldsmiths.

“We are committed to freedom of speech and, in common with other universities, hire out event space to organisations that abide by the law and our booking policies,” a university spokesman said.

He added that the university does not tolerate prejudice and any complaints of discriminatory behaviour would be thoroughly investigated.

The series of lectures, called Communist University 2019, run from August 17 to 24 and attendees can book accommodation for the whole week for up to £300.

It is described as 'the school for the thinking left with lots of time for genuine debate and discussion'.