The University of Bristol has lost an appeal against an employment tribunal ruling that it discriminated against an academic over his anti-Zionist beliefs. The case concerns David Miller, a former professor of political sociology who was dismissed in October 2021 following a disciplinary hearing that concluded he had failed to meet the university’s expected standards of behavior.
Miller initiated legal proceedings against the university, alleging unfair dismissal, breach of contract, and discrimination or victimisation on the basis of religion or belief. In 2024, an employment tribunal found that the university had indeed discriminated against Miller because of his anti-Zionist views and that his dismissal was both unfair and wrongful. The tribunal also ruled that while Miller’s compensation was due, it should be reduced by half, citing “contributory fault” stemming from his comments about Jewish students and student groups made on several occasions in 2021. Additionally, the tribunal found a 30 percent likelihood that Miller could have been lawfully dismissed by October 2023 due to later social media posts.
The university challenged these findings, arguing in a November 2025 appeal that Miller’s anti-Zionist beliefs were political opinions and therefore not protected under the Equality Act. It also sought to overturn the unfair dismissal ruling and requested that any compensation be withheld due to Miller’s own conduct. However, in a ruling delivered by Lord Fairley, president of the employment appeal tribunal, most of the university’s appeal was rejected. Fairley stated there was no justification for excluding Miller’s beliefs from protection simply because they concerned an issue of social importance or political nature. The tribunal upheld that the original decision—finding the dismissal discriminatory and outside a range of reasonable responses—was legitimate and properly reached.
Nonetheless, the appeal tribunal expressed uncertainty regarding the initial tribunal’s conclusion about the 30 percent chance of a lawful dismissal in 2023, referring this point back for reconsideration. Miller’s own appeal against findings that his dismissal was not an act of direct discrimination, and that the university’s reductions in compensation and rejection of a harassment claim were justified, were also dismissed.
The case traces back to a series of controversial statements made by Miller. In a 2019 lecture, he described the Zionist movement as one of several forces driving Islamophobia in the UK, prompting a complaint from the Community Security Trust charity, which accused him of antisemitism. An investigation cleared Miller of wrongdoing at that time. However, in February 2021, Miller further criticized Zionism at an event titled Building the Campaign for Free Speech, suggesting that ending Zionism was necessary and alleging it encouraged Islamophobia and anti-Arab racism.
His remarks sparked online accusations of antisemitism and drew criticism from Bristol Jewish Society. Miller responded by referring to some Jewish student groups as “political lobby groups” and stated that Jewish students in the UK were used as “political pawns by a violent, racist foreign regime engaged in ethnic cleansing.” In correspondence with a student journalist, he also asserted that Zionism “has no place in any society.” These comments ultimately led to his dismissal by the university.
The case continues to underline the complex intersection of academic freedom, free speech, and discrimination law in higher education institutions.