We won't take lectures on idleness from Katie Hopkins

Hopkins was responding to reports that some students at the University of Warwick have tried to stage their own lectures as industrial action by UCU members continues to cause disruption across the UK.

The union said far from being 'idle' surveys showed that university staff put in enormous amounts of unpaid overtime to support students, while class sizes in the UK are larger than in most competitor countries.

The union said it regretted the disruption but said universities' refusal to negotiate a sensible pay rise for staff, who have received a 13% real-terms pay cut since 2009, was the reason for industrial action.

Despite Katie Hopkins's Twitter promise to come to the University of Warwick to sort out striking lecturers, there is no industrial action taking place at any university today.

The next industrial action by UCU members will take place on Thursday (6 February) when they will walk out for a day with members of the Unite, Unison and EIS unions. UCU has been engaged in a series of short, sharp two-hour stoppages. The next one of those is scheduled for 9-11am on Monday 10 February.

UCU general secretary, Sally Hunt, said: 'UCU members are dedicated to their students. Far from being idle, they are overworked and put in many unpaid hours supporting students. 

'If Katie Hopkins wants to help students, she should focus her attention on persuading universities to negotiate a fair pay offer, rather than denigrating dedicated professionals. Although some might argue that if Katie Hopkins is having a go at you, then you're probably doing something right.'