Breaking news: UK student occupations - National President Wes Streeting 'misrepresented' by the Independent says NUS - release official statement

GazaSolidarity spoke to John Carroll in the National Union of Students press office concerning the reported support of the President for the wave of student occupations sweeping the UK.

The official position of NUS is being sent to us and will be posted as soon as we get it.

[update 17.25 GMT] see the official NUS position sent to us a moment ago:

NUS President Wes Streeting said: "I do believe that student political activism is alive and kicking, and is to be encouraged, but I do not believe that these occupations have been the student movement's finest hour.

"Students have every right to campaign actively and vocally on the situation in the Middle East, as well as wider political issues of the day, but all students also have the right to study in an environment that is free from disruption, intimidation or harassment. Where students are currently occupying teaching and learning spaces on campuses up and down the country, they are causing significant disruption to the education of their peers. Not only is this unacceptable, but it also undermines broader student support for the issues the protesters are seeking to highlight and they should reconsider their tactics.

"I also remain alarmed by reports of antisemitism on too many of our campuses. While criticism of Israel is perfectly acceptable and many of the protesters have campaigned peacefully, there can be no justification for the kinds of incidents that have been recorded on our campuses and in our communities. It is the responsibility of us all to not only face this reality, but to challenge this kind of racism head on."

True to form NUS has bottled it and gone for the anti-semitism slur instead. Streeting needs to be challenged on his (and Melanie Phillips's) attempt to place the blame for anti-semitism at the door of pro-Palestinian students. This is an outrageous slur against the student movement from a supposed leader of the student movement. GazaSolidarity will be contacting NUS tomorrow to challenge them to provide evidence of the linkage to anti-semitism.