Overview

• Demonstrations went ahead at universities in London, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Sheffield, Leeds, Bristol and Brighton, including an inter‑university march near King’s College London.
• Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer called the timing "un-British" as Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson urged students to pause, while Universities UK warned that expressing support for a proscribed group is a criminal offence.
• Some institutions sought changes to plans, with Strathclyde asking organisers to delay and the University of Liverpool’s student bake sale moved to a different date.
• Protesters chanted slogans including "from the river to the sea" and "long live the intifada", drawing criticism from counter‑demonstrators and prompting police monitoring at campus rallies.
• Security concerns were heightened by last week’s fatal knife attack at a Manchester synagogue, and the Home Secretary announced plans to amend Public Order Act powers so police can consider the cumulative impact of frequent protests.