‘A test of our values’: Starmer to call for whole-society response to rising antisemitism | Politics
Keir Starmer called on the whole of society to react against rising anti-Semitism on Tuesday, saying it was not enough to just condemn the scourge, people “must show” it with their actions.
Ahead of the roundtable event in Downing Street, the prime minister will call for action against all forms of antisemitism following last week’s stabbing attack on the Jewish community in Golders Green, a series of serious arson attacks and the terror incident in Heaton Park in October.
Sarah Sackman, the Labor MP for Finchley and Golders Green, said there was a “vocal lack of solidarity” from parts of the liberal left, including some anti-racist organisations, in the face of rising antisemitism across the UK.
No 10 will host representatives from across the community, including business, charities, health and culture, higher education and policing, for talks with the Jewish community. Starmer is expected to say they should all refuse to platform hatred or turn a blind eye to extremism.
“Last week’s terrorist attack in Golders Green was absolutely appalling. But this was not an isolated incident. It is part of growing antisemitism that has left our Jewish communities fearful, angry and questioning whether this country, their home, is safe for them,” he said.
“These disgusting attacks are being carried out against British Jews. But make no mistake, this crisis is a crisis for all of us. It is a test of our values. Values that are not guaranteed but earned. We win every day through our actions.”
“So it’s not enough to just say we stand with Jewish communities. We have to show it. And that responsibility belongs to each of us.”
Starmer will also convene ministers for a Middle East intervention committee, this time focusing on the effects of the conflict on internal security, particularly the growing threat to Jewish communities.
The government has announced £25 million in additional funding to increase police patrols, improve security at synagogues, schools and community centres, and deploy specialist and plainclothes police officers in communities.
The Golders Green stabbings intensified calls for action, coming just weeks after other anti-Semitic incidents in the same area. Police are investigating whether these incidents are related to criminal henchmen acting on behalf of Iran.
Sackman, who is also the courts and legal services minister, said support had been provided since the stabbing attack in his constituency last week, with messages from Christian and Muslim faith leaders. He added that the incident “clearly resonated” with people.
“For a minority community to face this kind of constant threat and be attacked simply for our identity, you would normally expect anti-racist organisations, unions and cultural leaders to speak out,” he told the Times.
“I think it is remarkable that for some time now the moderate majority has not shown vocal solidarity. You would rightly expect that our anti-racist movement, which has been vocal on a regular basis, would respond in kind to other minority communities.”
Writing in the Guardian last week, he said that Jewish people want to live their daily lives free of fear, work, take their children to school and practice their faith. Sackman wrote that he now found himself holding his daughters’ hands more tightly, adding that many British Jews were exhausted and afraid.
“Where are the solidarity and support marches of our Jewish community? Where is the response of the liberal left? Where are the anti-racists, the unions, civil society, our friends, our neighbors?” he wrote.
“Where are the leaders of the powerful tech platforms whose algorithms allow hate to proliferate? Where are the university presidents, the leaders of our cultural sector and the NHS managers who urgently need to root out hate in their institutions?”
