Bristol University withdraws emeritus status of professor, 78, who called for ‘somebody to blow up the venue’ while Jewish Labour Movement hosted its annual conference
- Harriet Bradley’s comments on social media sparked outrage among students
By Elizabeth Haigh[1] and Eirian Jane Prosser[2]
Published: 13:32, 8 December 2023 | Updated: 13:32, 8 December 2023
A former Labour councillor and Emeritus Professor who called for ‘someone to blow up the venue’ where the Jewish Labour Movement is hosting its annual conference has had her Honorary status withdrawn.
In a now-deleted Tweet, Harriet Bradley, 78, who worked at Bristol University, re-shared a poster advertising the event.
The offensive post led to a furious backlash from the Jewish community, with the sociology professor, who studies the ‘inequalities of class, gender[3], ethnicity’, being reported to the police and her former employer.
The professor has since been reported to the police and had her Emeritus status revoked.
Avon and Somerset Police are reportedly investigating the matter as an ‘incident of malicious communications’.
In a now-deleted Tweet, Harriet Bradley, 78, who worked at Bristol University, called for ‘someone to blow up the venue’ where the Jewish Labour Movement is hosting its annual conference
The Tweet has since been deleted but has led to an outcry from the Jewish community
Bristol University was forced to fire another professor in 2021 amid allegations of antisemitism made by students
A spokesperson for Bristol University said: ‘We can confirm that we have withdrawn the Emeritus and Honorary Status of retired employee Professor Harriet Bradley with immediate effect.’
Daniel Sugarman, who is director of public affairs for the Board of Deputies of British Jews, responded: ‘I checked to see if this tweet was real. It is.
‘I’m currently sitting in the building where Jewish Labour held their conference last year, so you can appreciate this is of some additional concern to me. An Emeritus Professor of Sociology at the University of Bristol.’
The Campaign Against Antisemitism told MailOnline that it had reported the professor to the police and asked for extra security for the event that is due to take place on January 14 in north London[4].
It also called on Bristol University, who previously fired another professor amid allegations of antisemitism, to ‘immediately sever all ties’ with the professor.
The university said it is ‘taking appropriate action’ and are ‘deeply dismayed by the inflammatory comment’.
In 2021, Professor David Miller, a sociologist at the university and well-known anti-Zionist, was sacked after Jewish students repeatedly raised concerns.
A spokesperson for the group said: ‘Over the last two months, we have been warning repeatedly that calls for violent intifada would not go unheeded by extremists.
‘This is an explicit call for a Jewish event to be bombed.
Obviously, the University of Bristol and the University of West England must immediately sever all ties to Prof. Bradley if they have any. No ifs or buts.’
It added: ‘We have reported the case to the police, who must open an urgent investigation, and security must be heightened at the event, lest someone put the Emeritus Professor of Women’s Employment’s instruction into action.’
The Jewish Labour Movement has also written to Bristol University claiming that the professor ‘is going out of their way to indulge in anti-Jewish racism’.
The letter said: ‘This is an opportunity for your University to act with speed and certainty when it comes to dealing with antisemitism amongst its faculty and demonstrating a zero tolerance for antisemitism.
In 2021, David Miller, a sociologist at the university and well-known anti-Zionist, was sacked after Jewish students repeatedly raised concerns
The Jewish Labour movement has written a letter to Bristol University calling for it ‘severe all ties’ with the university
Daniel Sugarman, who is director of public affairs for the Board of Deputies of British Jews, said the tweet was a ‘concern’
‘Does the University think Professor Bradley’s conduct is what one would expect of someone on whom you have bestowed the honour of an Emeritus professorship?’
It added: ‘Now that Professor Bradley is retired, we understand you have no responsibility for her conduct.
‘However, you do have the ability to send a powerful message about the lack of tolerance the faculty has for such hateful, highly dangerous and inflammatory behaviour.’
The Union of Jewish Students also called for the university to take urgent action, telling the establishment ‘Jewish students are watching’.
In a statement the union said: ‘This morning, an Emeritus Professor of Sociology at the University of Bristol encouraged her followers to ‘blow up’ a Jewish conference next month.
‘After two months of death threats, physical assault, and verbal abuse, Jewish students know all too well that the rot in university faculties runs deep.’
Bradley told the Jewish Chronicle that the Tweet was ‘only banter!
A joke!’ adding: ‘I do realise now it was in bad taste and would like to apologies to all those offended or frightened by it.’
She added that she ‘deplored the way that Labour has been taken over by pro-Zionist people and left-wing Jews have been kicked out’.
MailOnline has contacted Ms Bradley.
The Met Police and Avon and Somerset police forces have also been contacted.
A University of Bristol spokesperson said: ‘We are deeply dismayed by the inflammatory comment on social media from a former employee who has long retired and are taking appropriate action.’
References
- ^ Elizabeth Haigh (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ Eirian Jane Prosser (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ gender (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ London (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ London (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ Gender Ideology (www.dailymail.co.uk)