Students protest Michael Gove’s appearance at University of Glasgow event

Students staged a protest at the University of Glasgow last week against an event featuring Michael Gove.

The protestors were demonstrating following the former politician’s comments suggesting the Israeli military should receive the Nobel Peace Prize.

Mr Gove appeared alongside former First Minister Humza Yousaf at an “In Conversation with” event on Tuesday evening.

At around 6pm on Tuesday, 28th January, dozens of protesters gathered outside the Charles Wilson Building, where the event was set to take place. Demonstrators carried Palestinian flags and chanted slogans including “Free Palestine” and “Glasgow Uni, shame shame.”

According to reports from The Glasgow Tab, police were met with boos when officers attempted to move protesters to the other side of the street to allows attendees into the building.

A video shared to social media by Glasgow University Justice for Palestine showed students chanting to the former Conservative minister : “Your racism’s not welcome here,” and “Your fascism’s not welcome here”.

People can also be seen waving flags, and lining up outside as Mr Gove leaves the event.

Michael Gove previously wrote in a column for The Jewish Chronicle that “maybe it’s time” for then-US President Joe Biden and his Secretary of State Anthony Blinken to “make amends” with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu before leaving office.

He added: “Words are all very well, but what about something more tangible? Why not nominate the men and women of the IDF for the Nobel Peace Prize?”

Speaking to The National, Yousaf said he intended to challenge the former Conservative minister on his comments at the event.

“I intend to put it to Michael Gove directly to his face just how grotesque I think that headline was,” Yousaf said.

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“I’ve got family members, Nadia’s family, who’ve not just been made refugees by the IDF, but some of our extended family that have been killed by the IDF. To say that the IDF should then have a Nobel Peace Prize is, in my view, grotesque.”

The protest was organised by the Glasgow University Justice for Palestine society, which posted on Instagram said: “If he thinks he is welcome on our campus he’s got another thing coming!”

A student who attended the protest, Aisha Malik, said to The Glasgow Tab: “Inviting someone with views like Gove’s is unacceptable. As a university, we should stand for justice and human rights.”

A Police Scotland spokesperson confirmed: “Around 3.50pm on Tuesday, 28 January 2025, we were made aware of a crowd gathered outside a premises on Gilmorehill, Glasgow. Officers attended and engaged with the crowd, who dispersed shortly after 9pm.”

A spokesperson from the University of Glasgow said: “As an institution we stand against hate or harassment of any kind. We regularly communicate with all our staff and students about the need for tolerance towards each other, and we reiterate this call for members of our community to be respectful at all times.

“However, universities are a place for debate, and it’s important that we continue to uphold the principles of academic freedom and freedom of speech.

“This includes the right of everyone to express their political views and the right to protest, and we fully recognise and respect the right of students and staff to do so within the law.”

Michael Gove was contacted for comment but has not yet replied. 

Featured image via Instagram