A leading Jewish academic has threatened the University and College Union with legal action as the backlash against its rejection of the widely-accepted definition of antisemitism reached new levels this week.

Lawyers acting for Ronnie Fraser, director of Academic Friends of Israel, have written to UCU general secretary Sally Hunt alleging the Union's stance breaches equality laws.

Four Scottish academics have quit the University and College Union in protest against its decision to reject the European Union's working definition of antisemitism.

Ephraim Borowski, the former president of the UCU-predecessor, the Glasgow Association of University Teachers, was joined by three other longtime members in leaving.

A British academic has announced that he is taking legal action against the Universities and Colleges Union after it made the "indecent" decision to distance itself from the European Union's working definition of antisemitism.

Communities Secretary Eric Pickles believes the University and College Union's rejection of the widely-accepted definition of antisemitism sends a "chilling message" to Jewish academics and students.

Writing exclusively for the JC, Mr Pickles says UCU now believes that Jews are "fair game for invective" and has become "a most unlikely champion of free speech".

The Universities and Colleges Union has voted to distance itself from the European Union's working definition of antisemitism at its annual congress in Harrogate.

Trevor Phillips, Chair of the Equalities and Human Rights Commission, today said he was "surprised" at the failure of the UCU to introduce its motion on the definition of antisemitism "without consulting the EHRC" at all.