Baroness Shafik was accused of ‘failing to protect Jewish students’ during her tenure at the New York college
September 1, 2025 13:36
Downing Street has defended appointing the former president of Columbia University to a key new economic role, despite her overseeing what one Democratic congressman referred to as the “ground zero for campus antisemitism”.
Sir Keir Starmer appointed Baroness Shafik – an economist who has previously served as the deputy managing director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), vice president of the World Bank and deputy governor of the Bank of England – as his chief economic adviser during an overhaul of his advisory staff
But Shafik’s tenure in charge of Columbia University in New York was marred with controversy over the university’s handling of chaotic anti-Israel protests, during which some Jewish students and staff were threatened and intimidated, in the aftermath of October 7.
Then-US President Joe Biden denounced the “harassment and calls for violence against Jews” that took place at the college and the “blatant antisemitism” during some of the protests.
During her time in office, Shafik made clear that she personally abhorred antisemitism: “Antisemitic language, like any other language that is used to hurt and frighten people, is unacceptable and appropriate action will be taken.”
On Monday, a Downing Street spokesperson told reporters: “We've always been very clear, there's no place for any hatred or antisemitism anywhere. And that was echoed by Baroness Shafik in her statement at the time.”
The spokesperson went on to defend her appointment: “Baroness Shafik is someone with over 30 years’ experience in public service, in academia, in the World Bank, in the IMF… what's very clear is her exceptional record when it comes to her economic expertise, and the prime minister is delighted to have someone with that experience join his team to drive forward our economic agenda.”
However, Reform UK’s deputy leader Richard Tice expressed concern about Shafik’s new Downing Street role.
He told the JC: “Let’s hope she is better at economics than she was at dealing with antisemitism when she failed at Columbia University”.
In July this year, the White House announced that Columbia had agreed to pay a $200 million settlement for civil rights violations, including over $20 million, “to resolve alleged civil rights violations against Jewish Columbia employees that occurred on its campus following the October 7, 2023, Hamas terror attacks. This is also the largest ever settlement for victims of anti-semitism and for workers of any religion.”
US Education Secretary Linda McMahon said at the time: “The Trump administration's deal with Columbia University is a seismic shift in our nation’s fight to hold institutions that accept American taxpayer dollars accountable for antisemitic discrimination and harassment.
“For decades, the American public has watched in horror as our elite campuses have been overrun by anti-Western teachings and a leftist groupthink that restricts speech and debate to push a one-sided view of our nation and the world.”
Shafik, an Egyptian-born economist, was also president and vice-chancellor of the London School of Economics (LSE) between 2019-2023 and was ennobled to the House of Lords in 2020; she took an absence from the upper chamber to take up her role in Columbia.
She was president of the university from January 2023 to August 2024 and was then appointed by Foreign Secretary David Lammy to review the government’s approach to international aid.
At the time, her departure from Columbia was welcomed by leading members of the US Congress from both parties.
The speaker of the House of Representatives, Republican Mike Johnson accused her of refusing to protect Jewish students and said that “Columbia University became the epicenter for virulent antisemitism that has plagued many American university campuses since Hamas’ barbaric attack on Israel”.
Similarly, New York Democrat Richie Torres said that, under her tenure, Columbia had “been exposed as ground zero for campus antisemitism in NYC”.
Shafik’s appointment was as part of a wider reorganisation within Downing Street.
James Lyons, the former deputy political editor of the Sunday Times – and Baroness Hodge’s son-in-law – has departed his role as strategic communications director. Tim Allan, an adviser to former Prime Minister Sir Tony Blair, has been appointed as executive communications director.
Other appointments included that of Treasury official Daniel York-Smith as the prime minister’s principal private secretary, replacing Nin Pandit, who remains within the Number 10 team.
A small ministerial reshuffle also took place as Chief Secretary to the Treasury Darren Jones was given the new role of Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister, which Number 10 said was aimed at working “collaboratively across UK government to drive forward progress in key policy areas, reporting directly to the Prime Minister”.
He was replaced by Exchequer Secretary James Murray – both will now attend cabinet – who was himself replaced by Chipping Barnet MP Dan Tomlinson, who was first elected in last year’s general election.
Conservative Party chairman Kevin Hollinrake MP said the changes showed “a Downing Street in crisis – totally distracted from fixing the damage they’ve done to the economy, jobs and small businesses. It’s like firefighters arguing about the hose whilst the house burns down”.
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