FOI_25-243 Communications relating to NUS letter on Gaza
Date of response: 09 September 2025
We have now considered your request of 15 August 2025 for the following information:
Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, I would like to please request the following information:
Copies of any and all communications received by your university and/or your Students’ Union in the date range of 1 July 2025 to the date of this request, from:
2. The National Union of Students (NUS), and/or
6. The Union of Jewish Students (UJS), and/or
7. Any Jewish Society (JSOC) affiliated with the university, and/or
8. UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI)
9. Representatives acting on behalf of the above organisations,
that reference or relate to the open letter to the National Union of Students dated 11 July 2025 regarding Gaza (signed by sabbatical officers and student groups, as well as academic and legal bodies).
This includes, but is not limited to, any communications that:
6. Request retraction of a signature from the letter,
7. Request participation in UJS antisemitism training,
8. Request an apology from signatories,
9. Refer to the IHRA definition of antisemitism, or
10. Refer to related campaigns (e.g. divestment from companies linked to Israel).
Question 1. Please provide:
The full content of the communication (including email body text, attachments, letters, meeting notes or minutes), including the date of the communication, and the sender’s name and if not possible, the name of their body or organisation.
Please provide the information in electronic format (PDF or original email form).
This request is made in the public interest, given the importance of transparency in matters affecting freedom of expression, student representation, and the governance of higher education institutions. Understanding the nature of external influence on student bodies is a matter of democratic accountability.
In summary, I am seeking all correspondence from NUS, UJS, or affiliated JSOCs, or UKLFI to your university and/or Students’ Union about the 11 July 2025 open letter on Gaza linked here, including any follow-up requests, demands, or related discussions. The scope covers all formats and attachments within the period 1 July 2025 to the present.
Our response:
On this occasion it is not possible to provide any of the requested information. In line with your rights under section 1(1)(a) of the Act to be informed whether information is held, we confirm that the University does not hold any recorded information for any and all communications received by the University from 01 July 2025 to 15 August 2025 (the date of your request). The University do not have any records of any communications from any of the listed organisations which relate to the open letter to the National Union of Students dated 11 July 2025.