EXCLUSIVE: A college in Dudley has defended its controversial appointment of a prominent pro-Israel lobbyist, Lord Ian Austin, as a board member amid calls for his dismissal by local activists.
Pro-Palestine activists and some local Muslim residents in Dudley have raised concerns over Lord Ian Austin’s role at Dudley College of Technology.
The Dudley Palestine Solidarity Group sent an official complaint to the college, highlighting past controversies surrounding Lord Austin and calling for his immediate dismissal.
Austin, a former Labour MP who currently sits as a life peer in the House of Lords, is a well-known pro-Israel activist who has expressed highly controversial views over the years regarding Muslims, Palestinians and Zionism — views that Muslims and Arabs will find upsetting or deeply disturbing.
Activists behind the complaints told 5Pillars that they fear Austin is a divisive figure and that his stance on Israel and Zionism compromises his integrity and ability to serve in a role for a diverse community with a significant Muslim population.
In a statement sent to the college on April 2, the Dudley Palestine Solidarity Group warned of the divisive nature of Austin’s appointment.
“It remains both a conundrum and a contradiction that Lord Austin should continue in such an important role within Dudley College Corporation, given his past and ongoing history. Education and the learning process do not operate in a vacuum, immune to global humanitarian issues.
Subscribe to our newsletter and stay updated on the latest news and updates from around the Muslim world!
“Lord Austin’s position brings the college into serious disrepute and threatens community cohesion across a diverse borough that includes citizens of Palestinian heritage. This matter needs to be resolved with the utmost urgency.”
Lord Austin of Dudley, who served as Member of Parliament for Dudley North from 2005 to 2019 and was appointed to the House of Lords in 2020, became a member of the Corporation in November 2020.
As a Labour Party MP, he was a member of the Labour Friends of Israel lobby group and played a significant role in opposing the then pro-Palestine leader Jeremy Corbyn as a Labour rebel MP.
College response
In a response letter sent to an activist on April 8, the college stood by their appointment of Austin after a “review.”
“We have carefully reviewed the matters you have raised under our complaints procedure, taking into account relevant considerations, including the views of staff and students. We note that the examples you have cited, including the most recent from February 2024, have already been fully considered by the Corporation. No further concerns have been raised since that time, and there is no evidence to indicate any ongoing breach of governance standards.
“The College remains committed to maintaining high standards of conduct. All governors are expected to adhere to the Corporation’s Code of Conduct, which reflects the Nolan Principles. While we do not believe further action is required in this instance, we will continue to uphold robust governance processes to maintain public confidence. If concerns were to arise about any governor expressing unacceptable views or acting in a manner contrary to our standards, the Corporation would take appropriate action.”
The statement also went into detail about the deeper relationship the college has with Lord Austin, which may explain their defence of the controversial lobbyist.
“It is also important to highlight the valuable contributions made by all of our governors, who serve in a voluntary and unpaid capacity. Lord Austin, in particular, has supported a number of initiatives that align with the College’s values, including the annual Holocaust Memorial Event, led by Dudley College Students’ Union.
“More recently, he led a student project on the positive impact of refugees in Dudley, which resulted in an exhibition of student work at the Houses of Parliament, celebrating the diversity of our local community.
“I should clarify that that matters relating to international politics and events are not within the remit of the Corporation. Our focus remains firmly on the best interests of our students and our local community.”
Ian Austin’s controversies
Ian Austin has consistently expressed strong support for Israel and Zionism.
As the UK Trade Envoy to Israel (appointed in 2019), Austin opposed the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement, viewing it as antisemitic and detrimental to peace by isolating Israel. He has advocated for stronger UK-Israel trade ties and collaboration with the U.S. to promote democratic values.
Austin has supported Israel’s “right to defend itself,” particularly against Hamas, which he has described as an “Islamist death cult” responsible for civilian suffering in Gaza.
And he equates much of anti-Zionism with antisemitism, particularly when it denies Israel’s “right to exist” or singles it out for criticism.
In March 2020, Austin spoke at Zionist AIPAC conference in the U.S. where he called for a fight against anti-Zionism. “Good fair-minded people of all political persuasions must come together to fight anti-Zionism and rampant antisemitism,” he said.
In July 2021, Austin was accused of “racism” and “bigotry” after he posted a tweet showing a fake “new flavour” of Ben and Gerry’s ice cream for Gaza.
The tweet, by former UK trade envoy to Israel Ian Austin, showed a made-up Ben and Jerry’s ice cream tub titled “Hamas Terror Misu.” It then showed a cross-section of the tub with soldiers in underground tunnels and a Palestinian flag on top of a building on the surface.
The tweet read: “Ben and Jerry’s have stopped selling ice cream in the West Bank, but they’ve introduced new flavours for Gaza.”
It came as Ben and Jerry’s announced it would stop selling its ice cream in Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories.
In February 2024, housing association Midland Heart’s suspended and later dropped Ian Austin after an inflammatory X post about “Islamist murderers and rapists.”
In the now-deleted post, Lord Austin ridiculed UNWRA’s claim it had been unaware that Hamas was operating underneath its Gaza headquarters. He tweeted: “Everyone, better safe than sorry: before you go to bed, nip down and check you haven’t inadvertently got a death cult of Islamist murderers and rapists running their operations downstairs. It’s easily done.”
In May 2023, the Muslim Council of Britain – one of the UK’s largest Muslim umbrella organisations – expressed deep concern that an MP known for Islamophobic comments was appointed to lead an independent review into the Hindutva-inspired Leicester riots over concerns of his views of Muslims and Palestinians.
“An independent review is an important step to address and understand the causes the unrest. However, it is crucial to have an independent reviewer who is impartial, fair, and capable of gaining the trust and confidence of all stakeholders,” the MCB said.
“The appointment of Lord Austin, given his divisive record and the serious allegations of Islamophobia against him, has created deep apprehension among Muslims and other communities in Leicester.”
