Academic 'aligned' with sacked colleague's views on Zionism

Prof Miller claimed "Zionist organisations" had targeted UK universities through a "censorship campaign"

A retired professor said he was "aligned" with a sacked professor's views on Zionism.

Professor David Miller was sacked by the University of Bristol in 2021 after making allegedly antisemitic comments.

Mr Miller launched employment tribunal proceedings claiming unfair dismissal and discrimination on grounds of belief.

The tribunal could become a test case as he argued his anti-Zionist stance was a protected philosophical belief.

Professor George Banting, who led a fact-finding investigation into the case, told the hearing on Monday that he was "more inclined" towards Prof Miller's view that Zionism was a "racist" ideology based on "settler colonialism" but did not let that influence him.

'Independent investigation'

Under cross-examination, he denied acting "as a prosecutor" in the investigation and claimed he had already decided Prof Miller's views were "beyond the pale".

Prof Banting told the hearing: "I don't agree that I acted as a prosecutor.

"My beliefs are irrelevant because I was trying to conduct an independent investigation."

He later said: "I would be more aligned with the position that Professor Miller puts forward in terms of Zionism being a racist ideology and settler colonialism.

"It is my personal view. I was trying to keep that out of proceedings when I was doing the investigation."

'Attacked and defamed'

The hearing in Bristol had previously heard Prof Miller claim the university failed to defend him from being "attacked and defamed" over his views on Israel.

Prof Miller drew controversy during a lecture at the university in 2019, when he said the Zionist movement was one of five pillars driving Islamophobia in the UK, the tribunal has heard.

The University of Bristol subsequently received a complaint from the Community Security Trust charity, which said his lecture was a "false, vile… antisemitic slur".

After an investigation of the complaint, no further action was taken against Mr Miller.

Further complaints were made to the university about him after he took part in an event called "Building the campaign for free speech" in February 2021, in which he spoke of being publicly criticised for his views on Palestine and Israel.

This led to the launch of disciplinary proceedings that culminated in his dismissal in October 2021.

The tribunal continues.