Durham University is “urgently” examining its decision to re-admit a student who called Jews “apex predators in capitalism”.

Hugo Lunn was allowed to begin his PhD in medieval history in October 2022 despite being criticised over his posts in a far-right group chat while it is believed he was student at the university.

He was subject to a complaint about the posts which included a statement saying, “Hitler would be more efficient if he privatised his death factories” and a reference to “the Jewishtocracy”.

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Durham Student Union shut down Durham University Free Market Association - which Hugo Lunn was president of - in 2020 when details of the discussions came to light, saying 'fascism, racism, antisemitism and misogyny in the screengrabs is repulsive.' (Photo: Facebook)

Lunn used many aliases in the group chats, including the “Grand Mufti of the Free Market”, “Hasdrubal” and “Nebuchadnezzar” — a reference to Nebakanezer II, notorious for being a cruel enemy of the Jewish people and destroying Jerusalem.

Lunn was identified after leaks of the chat emerged — which the JC has seen — in which other group members addressed him using his real name.

In other messages Lunn appeared to mock a student who had been offended by the statement “the only reason the Holocaust was bad is because the Jews did not consent to being gassed”, saying “he got triggered, the cuck”. 

The college was alerted to the comments in August 2020, two months after Lunn completed his undergraduate degree, but suggested it was unaware of the complaint when it allowed him to return to the university. Durham University claim that Lunn was not a student at the time he made the comments.

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A complaint about Lunn’s comments from a student was received by the university in August 2020 (Photo: Handout)

A Durham University spokesperson said: “In 2020, in response to concerns raised, we undertook an investigation under our Non-Academic Misconduct Procedure. Our misconduct procedures apply only to members of Durham University. At that time, the individual named by the Jewish Chronicle was not a student at Durham University. We did take action against two other individuals, who were at that time Durham University students."

They added: “As there was no investigation against the individual, because they were not at that time a student at Durham University, there was no record to be kept and no record to consider when they later applied for further study with us. 

“We are looking into this matter urgently and considering what actions we may take.”

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Several of Hugo Lunn's messages (Photo: Facebook)

Figures including City of Durham MP Mary Kelly Foy, Karen Pollock - Chief Executive of the Holocaust Educational Trust - and the CST urged for a formal inquiry. The MP has raised “serious concerns” with the university. 

The JC understands that the university has met Durham JSoc to discuss the issue. 

Lunn refused to comment on the record.