Glasgow University’s Students’ Representative Council (SRC) has confirmed that it will not approve changes to student society constitutions that would exclude or discriminate against Zionist students.

In a response to UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI) on 20 October 2026, the SRC revealed that four proposed constitutional amendments containing similar anti-Zionist wording had been submitted to it, but that none had been approved.

The confirmation follows a letter from UKLFI to the University’s Principal and Vice-Chancellor, Professor Andy Schofield, and the SRC, raising serious concerns about a campaign by Glasgow University Justice for Palestine Society (GUJPS) to create a “Zionist free campus”.

On 14 October, GUJPS and the UofG Divestment Coalition published a joint Instagram post encouraging student societies to amend their constitutions to declare that “Zionism will not be tolerated”.

The campaign, headed “ZIONISM IS RACISM”, urged societies to create a “zionist free environment” and proposed adding Zionism to a list of prohibited conduct alongside racism, sexism, homophobia and religious discrimination.

The post claimed that student societies had already adopted such amendments and that the SRC had approved them.

However, responding to UKLFI within hours of receiving its letter, SRC President Molly Corbett categorically rejected that claim. She wrote:

“Four proposed amendments containing similar wording have been received by the SRC. None has been approved. Public statements suggesting otherwise misrepresent the SRC’s position.”

She confirmed that affiliated clubs and societies were required to uphold equal opportunities and must not discriminate against students because of their beliefs or identity, “including differing views concerning Zionism.”

Ms Corbett added:

“Societies are entitled to engage in lawful political debate and campaigning. However, their constitutions must not contain provisions that would permit or encourage the exclusion or discriminatory treatment of students because of their beliefs or identity.”

She concluded that the SRC would not approve constitutional amendments undermining those principles.

In its letter, UKLFI warned that the campaign risked excluding or disadvantaging Jewish and Israeli students, as well as those who identify as Zionists.

UKLFI pointed out that Zionism, understood as the belief that the Jewish people have a right to self-determination in their ancestral homeland, is a protected philosophical belief under the Equality Act 2010.

It argued that excluding students because they hold Zionist beliefs would amount to unlawful direct discrimination, while such a policy could also discriminate indirectly against Jewish and Israeli students on grounds of race or religion.

UKLFI highlighted research by the Institute for Jewish Policy Research showing that 64% of British Jews identify as Zionists and 75% feel emotionally attached to Israel.

It warned that branding Zionism as racism and seeking to create a “Zionist free campus” would send a deeply hostile message to Jewish students, many of whom regard support for Israel as an important part of their identity.

UKLFI further pointed out that the University of Glasgow has adopted the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) Working Definition of Antisemitism, which identifies denying the Jewish people their right to self-determination as a potential example of antisemitism.

The SRC is a registered Scottish charity, and UKLFI reminded its trustees of their responsibilities under charity and equality law to prevent discrimination.

UKLFI also drew attention to the University’s obligation to uphold academic freedom under the Further and Higher Education (Scotland) Act 2005.

A UKLFI spokesperson said:

“We welcome the SRC’s unequivocal confirmation that it will not approve constitutional amendments designed to exclude Zionist students. It is particularly disturbing that four such amendments have already been submitted.

“Freedom of expression does not give student societies the right to discriminate against people because of their beliefs. A campaign to create a ‘Zionist free campus’ is especially alarming when the majority of British Jews identify as Zionists.

“The SRC has rightly drawn a clear line between legitimate political debate and discrimination. We hope it will now publicly correct the misleading claims that these amendments had been approved and ensure that Jewish, Israeli and Zionist students can participate fully in university life without fear of exclusion.”

UKLFI has also asked the University itself to oversee the SRC’s handling of the matter and ensure that Jewish students are not excluded or disadvantaged.

The SRC’s response establishes that none of the four proposed amendments has been approved. However, it has not yet identified which societies submitted them or confirmed whether it will issue a public correction of GUJPS’s claims.