For the past 14 years, I’ve had the honour of representing, as its Member of Parliament, the constituency with the largest Jewish community of any in the UK.
In that time, I’ve had the privilege of access to the community itself, where I’ve seen the warmth, friendship, and mutual support that binds it together. The commitment to charitable works, to helping others, to education. The very essence of these traits is British to the core, and the individuals and groups I’ve had the pleasure of engaging with are a credit to themselves, their community, and our country.
What I’ve also seen during that time in interacting with the Jewish community, sadly, is the still-prevalent issue of antisemitism.
This has manifested in specific incidents, such as the “hate convoys” in Golders Green, in which vile, antisemitic vitriol and threats of violence were screamed at Jewish passers-by. It is also demonstrated in ongoing, deep-rooted ways, such as the intimidating, hostile atmosphere on university campuses towards Jewish students espousing views that don’t align with anti-Israel groupthink.
Whilst antisemitism has been a prevailing concern across my time in office, and one that I’ve looked to take action on both locally and in Parliament, the events of October 7th last year undoubtedly represent a watershed moment in how brazen and regular antisemitism is becoming. As per data from the Community Security Trust, a Jewish security charity, there were 4,103 reports of anti-Jewish hate incidents in 2023, up from 1,662 in 2022 and approaching double the existing record of 2,255 in 2021.
These statistics are shocking, especially when considering the immense trauma suffered by the British Jewish community in the wake of the genocidal acts of Hamas in Israel, some of whom had relatives caught up in the horrific violence. I’ve seen first-hand the footage of the massacre; that anyone’s reaction to this could be to inflict further pain on the Jewish community is unconscionable.
Antisemitism, in all forms, is an egregious hate crime, and it is incumbent on us all to ensure that it is stamped out wherever it emerges. It’s vital that at this crucial stage – before such problematic views become endemic and societally acceptable – we push back against them, and against those who perpetuate anti-Jewish hatred. In my view, there are several ways to do so.
Policing to combat antisemitism
The Jewish community is understandably shaken by the vitriolic rhetoric that has been espoused at large-scale pro-Palestine marches since October. As a London-based MP, I’ve been inundated by concerned Jewish constituents scared to venture into central London on march days for fear of being targeted. They believe those involved in hateful behaviour within marches are allowed to act with impunity week-on-week, with no apparent punishment for their actions.
To be clear, I do not seek to ascribe all those taking part in these demonstrations as antisemitic; freedom of speech is a cornerstone of British democracy, and people are at liberty to express considered critiques. However, the prevalence of those hateful elements at marches, and their ability to espouse their vile abuse unchallenged, does speak to the increasingly permissive atmosphere for anti-Jewish sentiment in such settings.
I’ve engaged regularly with senior figures in the Metropolitan Police on the policing of these demonstrations over the past months, and I recognise the complexity of the challenges they face in preventing serious public disorder and identifying criminality.
Nevertheless, it is vital that where criminal antisemitic acts are committed, arrests are made and justice is shown to be carried out for all to see. Visible arrests, adaptive policing methods, and a more effective communications strategy are needed for the police to tackle antisemitism effectively.
Not only would this deter others from such behaviour but it would also be transformative for confidence in the police within the Jewish community.
Role of institutions
The UK is a nation characterised by the strength of its institutions – in government, in media, in education, and across the public sector. As such, these institutions have significant influence to set standards and norms and impact positive change.
As mentioned above, the safety of Jewish students on university campuses is a longstanding issue in need of urgent action, and there have undoubtedly been failures by many university leaders to crack down on antisemitic behaviour. Professional anti-Israel agitators have been allowed to permeate and radicalise student groups on campuses, resulting in horrific scenes of intimidation and abuse of Jewish students.
It goes without saying that universities would not tolerate intimidation, targeting, and abuse of students on account of their colour, and would not permit white supremacists to air their hateful views on campuses. Why then, should the same be allowed when it is Jewish students being targeted with antisemitic hate?
Real, substantive action – not lip service – to keep Jewish students safe and a zero-tolerance approach to the racial hatred of antisemitism is needed.
Education
Education is perhaps the most vital tool in combatting antisemitism, involving the teaching of critical thinking so that individuals accessing information online, or listening to views espoused by activists, can do so with the tools to differentiate between facts and fiction and can recognise hateful rhetoric. This is relevant and crucial not just for our young people, but for all ages.
Historical awareness is important, and it’s crucial that we continue to support organisations like the Holocaust Educational Trust in their vital work. We must never forget the lessons of the Holocaust, or the horrors it contained.
Finally, it’s worth noting that most Britons don’t personally know a Jewish person or family, and so, undoubtedly, will have limited understanding of the community as a whole and the specific issues it faces. We need to work on ways of showing ordinary Britons the community I’ve had the opportunity and privilege to see.
If we can get ordinary Britons to share the warmth of sharing a Friday night supper with Jewish families, this could go a long way in tackling antisemitism before it even has time to take root.
This is just one of the articles that features in Chamber’s ‘diversity and inclusion’ section in our pre-election edition of the journal. To gain online access, please subscribe here.