PM promises tough crackdown, but Tories criticise Labour leader’s response to ‘national emergency’ after Golders Green stabbings
Sir Keir Starmer holds a summit in Downing Street to tackle antisemitism (Image: Getty)
Sir Keir Starmer has been slammed for the “same tired words” on antisemitism after holding a Downing Street summit to tackle the crisis. The Prime Minister hosted community leaders, ministers and police in No 10 as he pledged new laws to clamp down on hostile foreign actors fuelling racial hatred at home.
It comes after a spate of antisemitic attacks, including the Golders Green stabbing in which two Jewish men were knifed in London. There have also been arson attacks on Jewish buildings, with two community ambulances set ablaze. Sir Keir told the summit: “It is not enough to simply say we stand with Jewish communities.”
But Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp retorted: “Jewish families are living in fear. Jewish buildings are burning, and this Prime Minister responds with the same tired words every single time.”
Mr Philp branded the rise in antisemitic crimes a “national emergency” and called for the Government to increase police presence and start urgently prosecuting those behind the attack.
The Conservatives have also demanded a moratorium on the so-called “hate marches” in central London and elsewhere, as well as a ban on the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
Mr Philp added that the Government should “revoke visas of foreigners who commit antisemitic offences”.
Chris Philp, pictured here visiting Golders Green with Kemi Badenoch, has criticised Labour’s response to antisemitism (Image: Getty)
At Monday’s summit, Sir Keir said Iranian-backed groups – believed to be backing antisemitic violence – will also be targeted with fast-tracked new laws.
The Prime Minister said he was “clear-eyed about the fact that antisemitism does not have one source alone: Islamists, far-Left, far-Right extremism, all target Jewish communities”.
He added: “That is why this Government has put in place the first co-ordinated national plan to strengthen cohesion and confront extremism in all of its forms.”
He also said the actions of perpetrators who “seek to foment violence, hatred or division in society” would “not be tolerated”.
The Government also announced an extra £1.5million in funding to strengthen community cohesion. No 10 has also demanded that universities “demonstrate action” to tackle antisemitism on campus.
As the meeting in Whitehall took place, the Metropolitan Police announced it was investigating an arson attack at a former synagogue in Tower Hamlets, east London.