To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web
browser that
supports HTML5
video
Sir Keir Starmer has opened an antisemitism summit at Downing Street by admitting Jewish communities are wondering if they are safe in the UK.
The Prime Minister invited a selection of leaders in different sectors to No 10 this morning for discussions on how to stem anti-Jewish hate.
It comes after a series of high-profile incidents, from the Heaton Park synagogue attack in October last year to the stabbings in Golders Green last week.
This morning, the Met said counter-terror police were investigating a suspected arson attack at a former synagogue in Whitechapel.
Starmer told the meeting: ‘These disgusting attacks are being made against British Jews. But, make no mistake, this crisis – it is a crisis for all of us.
‘It is a test of our values. Values that aren’t guaranteed, they are earned. Every single day. Through our actions.
Want to understand more about how politics affects your life?
Metro’s senior politics reporter Craig Munro breaks down all the chaos into easy to follow insight, in Metro‘s politics newsletter Alright, Gov? Sent every Wednesday. Sign up here.
‘So, it is not enough to simply say we stand with Jewish communities. Of course we do, but we have to show with action.’
He said police are investigating whether ‘a foreign state’ bears responsibility for some of the attacks, adding: ‘We are clear that these actions will have consequences if that proves to be the case.’
An Iran-liked terror group named Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia (HAYI) has claimed responsibility for the attack on two men in Golders Green, though investigators reportedly believe this was most likely opportunistic.
The PM said: ‘Our message to Iran, or to any other country that might seek to foment violence, hatred or division in society, is that it will not be tolerated.
‘That is why we are fast tracking legislation to tackle these malign threats.’
Ministers are expected to introduce laws which would enable them to proscribe state threats such as Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
The changes, which would make it a criminal offence to support such organisations, will be set out in the King’s Speech on May 13.
Starmer also announced this morning that universities will be expected to publish reports showing the scale of antisemitism on their campuses and what they are doing to combat it.
Cultural venues could also face losing Arts Council funding if public money is being used to ‘promote or platform antisemitism’, he added.
Anti-Jewish hate has become a key issue in the week leading up to this Thursday’s English local elections, which take place the same day as national elections in Scotland and Wales.
Yesterday, Labour posted a political advert highlighting antisemitic comments alleged to have been made by candidates standing for the Green Party.
Green leader Zack Polanski told the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg he does not believe his party has a ‘particular problem compared to wider society and other political parties’.
He said: ‘I think there’s a problem with antisemitism in society. We have 4,500 candidates [and] a handful of cases where antisemitism has been accused.
‘I think we clearly do need to have a better vetting process and that’s something I’ve taken away from this election.’
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
For more stories like this, check our news page.