James Purnell joined UAL (University of the Arts) in 2021 to become President and Vice-Chancellor. Purnell is the front-face of UAL 'anti-racism strategy'.

Since 7th October 2023, UAL as an institution has been complicit in speaking against the genocidal ethic cleansing of thousands of Palestinians within less than 50 days by the racist zionist state of Israel. 

“Leaders who do not act dialogically, but insist on imposing their decisions, do not organise the people--they manipulate them. They do not liberate, nor are they liberated: they oppress.”  Paulo Freire, Pedagogy of the Oppressed, 1970. 

Purnell came to UAL from the BBC where he first worked in the 1990s as Head of Corporate Planning. 

Purnell began his rise in New Labour politics working as a researcher for Tony Blair. Purnell was a committed supporter of the Iraq invasion 18th March 2003, Purnell voted against saying that the case for war against Iraq has not yet been established. He also voted in favour of the government using all means necessary to ensure the disarmament of Iraq's weapons of mass destruction leading to the UK joining the invasion of Iraq 2 days later. 

2002-2003, Purnell was the chair of the LFI (Labour Friends of Israel).

LFI is a parliamentary group that promotes a strong relationship between Britain and Israel. They describe themselves as “a Westminster based lobby group working within the British Labour party to promote the state of Israel”. Purnell described the apartheid wall as an act of peace “a dovish move that recognises the legitimacy of two states”. 

We demand UAL President and Vice Chancellor James Parnell to resign immediately.