DJ sets, free drink tokens and trips home for showers: Inside Britain ... trends now

Students setting up pro-Gaza 'solidarity' encampments and holding sit-ins are enjoying DJ sets, free drink tokens and regular trips home for showers.

Demonstrators have pitched tents and hoisted pro-Palestine flags on campuses across the UK, calling for an end to the war between Israel and Hamas and demanding universities disclose and end any investments in the arms trade.

Now students taking part at universities including Newcastle and Bristol have described the 'freezing' conditions but also the benefits being offered, including deliveries of free snacks - as they denied being 'champagne socialists'.

Commons Leader Penny Mordaunt, speaking in Parliament, today warned that protesters should be met with 'an extremely strict response' if they tried to replicate what she called the 'disgusting' scenes happening in the US, where 1,000 students have been arrested. 

Organisers here have insisted the protests will remain peaceful as they spread to even more universities over the coming days and weeks.

The first UK university encampment was set up last week at Warwick, with others following in Bristol, Sheffield, Manchester, Leeds and Newcastle - where students have brought tents, banners and gazebos.

Today there were w0 tents outside the Student Union at Newcastle University, where entertainment by a Palestinian DJ was being planned and regular food supplies are being provided. 

Campers have also been given vouchers for free drinks at the university bar.

Lewi, a law student at Newcastle, admitted sleeping in his own bed at home last night and having a shower before returning 24 hours after the protest had begun at 8am yesterday.

He insisted it was 'freezing' despite the May sunshine but declared the demos would continue 'indefinitely' even if students find themselves kicked out of university.

Lewi, 20, said: 'It isn't champagne socialism - it's really high stakes, we've been here for 24 hours so far.

'The student union have been bringing snacks and we are getting tokens for free drinks at the bar.

'They are our union, our fees go to them to be our union - this is our benefit.'

He described how students would gather each day at 5pm and at 6.30pm share a community dinner 'where everyone is welcome', adding: 'We have a call out group chat where if we need anything people bring it.

'What we're doing, it's not nice, it's freezing. This isn't for fun - we try to make it fun but it isn't.

'We are willing to be here indefinitely and we are willing to lose our degrees over it. It's a strong statement.

'From my point of view, I haven't worked as a child for my academic record to sit here and hear about the students in Gaza that don't have a single university, and do nothing.'

The student, originally from Brighton, did suggest there was 'a chance of things going south very quickly'.

He said: 'Suspension is quite likely. We are worried about our degrees being taken away. People have been going to the library and coming back.'

Jonathan Turner, chief executive of the group UK Lawyers For Israel called earlier for universities to ''take immediate legal action to remove these encampments before Jewish and other students are harassed and excluded'.

But Lewi insisted the demonstrators were not anti-Semitic and included 'a large number' of Jewish students.

He said: 'The food I'm eating has been prepared by an Israeli citizen. The high involvement of Jewish students means the discourse hasn't been made too much of a thing.'

The campers are surrounded by Palestinian flags and photographs of dead children.

A large banner at the front of the site says, 'Gaza solidarity encampment', while another sign reads: 'Anti-Zionism is not anti-Semitism.' 

Hafsa, a 21-year old first year student, was not camping out but instead delivering supplies to other students.

She said: 'I'm bringing the vibes up, getting the speaker out, dancing, boosting morale.

'I live locally and I feel like my support is better through making sure there is a car here. I have three little brothers at home who I have to help get ready for school so I go home on an evening.

'We are willing to be here until our demands are met.'

She did describe as 'anxious and terrified' she could lose her degree as a result.

But she added: 'At the same time, I don't think I would be able to live my life knowing that I have a degree and have paid the price with my silence.'

Students in Newcastle have been protesting an alleged partnership between the university and defence and security company Leonardo SpA, claimed to have involvement in producing equipment for Israeli jets. 

Hafsa went on: 'I find it a privilege to be at a place like Newcastle University. The university would be at a great loss if they tried to silence us.

'They would be overlooking the leaders of tomorrow. We have tried time and time again to communicate with the university.'

Addressing concerns about anti-Semitism, she added: 'I understand what it feels like to be targeted. I would hate for anyone to feel as though we are here against them.

'I wouldn't want to make anyone feel uncomfortable and if anyone has concerns about anti-Semitism I'm very, very open. I'm sure everyone else is as well to have a calm discussion about it.'

National Women Against Pit Closures secretary Heather Wood, 72, from Easington in County Durham, donated £10 to the students.

She said: 'It's about genocide and killing bairns. These people are living somewhere where it is their right to live.

'I want to support the students. It's really making me feel hopeful about the future.

'It's hard to stand against the state. I'm just so happy that they are doing this. It's just amazing and it makes me feel so much better now that someone is doing it.' 

Last October, Leonardo SpA opened a technology research site in the city and hosted an event attended by at least one faculty member from the university - although it was unclear to what extent the firm worked directly with the institution.

Leonardo did launch a data science partnership with the National Innovation Centre for Data hosted at the university last summer.

Newcastle University said it respected people's right to protest lawfully.

A spokesperson added: 'Working with industry partners is critical in helping us to leverage our world-class research, to advance science and to support the UK's development through high-value employment and skills.

'Any proposals for defence and security collaborations are reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

'The university does not invest in companies making armaments.'

Meanwhile, at the Bristol University protest camp, about 20 students have been

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