After CAA provides evidence appearing to show Birkbeck’s Prof. Rob Singh using antisemitic language, University confirms he is leaving at end of academic year

Birkbeck, University of London has confirmed to Campaign Against Antisemitism that Professor Rob Singh will be leaving the institution at the end of the academic year.

The confirmation comes after we provided the University with evidence that appeared to show Prof. Singh using the most appalling language in correspondence with a third party.

We wrote to Vice-Chancellor Professor David Latchman CBE, sharing copies of the messages, which contained expressions of various forms of bigotry, including a number of antisemitic comments, urging the University to investigate.

Comments included appearing to accuse a Jewish person of contemplating theft and saying “Too bad you live down to stereotypes.” asking “Is it difficuybeing a Jew?” [sic] and “Are you pretending to be a Jew?” There was also a reference to “Jew boy” and other inflammatory language. In addition there were also references in the messages to “f***ing apes” and uses of the n-word, and abuse directed at other minority groups.

Prof. Latchman responded to Campaign Against Antisemitism to inform us that Prof. Singh would be leaving the University on 31st July 2023, without going into further detail.

Prof. Singh currently serves as Professor of Politics and Director of Education in the Department of Politics at Birkbeck. He did not respond to a request for comment.

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “The language used in the correspondence that was provided to us is extreme and appalling, containing various forms of bigotry, including a number of antisemitic comments. Someone who repeatedly uses such language, even in the heat of sustained argument, has no place teaching impressionable young people. It is right that he is imminently leaving Birkbeck.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism monitors the adoption of the International Definition of Antisemitism by universities.