A member of the National Union of Student’s national executive committee has resigned ahead of a vote on whether to censure him after his comments comparing Israel to the Nazis.

Ayo Olatunji, who was elected to the NUS’s NEC in April, had been accused by the Union of Jewish Students of "blatantly antisemitic language shared online".

He was facing a motion of censure at an NUS meeting on Monday, after Sally Patterson, a Jewish member of the NEC, submitted an emergency motion against him 10 days ago. 

Tweets from Mr Olatunji in August included the accusation that “the Israel lobby has been seen to bully the UK into changing headlines and focus, I believe it is happening right now with Jeremy Corbyn.”

He also tweeted: “Regardless of where the IHRA definition is accepted in society it is important to ALWAYS state and push the fact that Israel is a racist endeavour, we can’t let the imperialist racist state of Israel revise history.

“Also there are many Nazi policies and principles that are embodied within Israel’s culture and policy making, don’t allow Israel to change your mind on this.”

The UJS described Mr Olatunji's Nazi comparison comments as "outrageous", and said that, under the IHRA definition of antisemitism that the NUS has adopted, such language was antisemitic.

Reacting to the news of his resignation on Monday, a UJS spokesperson said: “We are pleased that Ayo Olatunji has resigned from NEC of the National Union of Students. Olatunji deliberately caused deep hurt to Jewish students with his antisemitic comments.

“We have been clear throughout this incident that antisemitism and Holocaust Inversion have absolutely no place in the student movement and neither do those who knowingly engage in it. We expect NUS to always enforce their own policy on antisemitism. We would like to take this opportunity to once again thank the hundreds of students, students’ union sabbatical officers, and NUS NEC members who have stood with us in the fight against antisemitism.”

An NUS spokesperson confirmed Mr Olatunji had resigned.

They added: “The National Union of Students believes that all forms of hate and prejudice are unacceptable. NUS will continue to engage with the Jewish students and the community to identify ways in which we can ensure our spaces are inclusive and accessible to all students.

"We will always strive to create a sector, organisation and movement that gives everyone the opportunity to learn, share ideas and lead without fear”.