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Safety of the Jewish Community
08 September 2026
Lead MP
Catherine West
Hornsey and Wood Green
Lab
Responding Minister
Sarah Jones
Tags
Community SecurityReligion & Faith
Word Count: 13283
Other Contributors: 20
At a Glance
Catherine West raised concerns about safety of the jewish community in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.
Key Requests to Government:
West requests that the Government ensure Jewish communities are safe, stamp out online hate, and tackle antisemitism at its roots through work in schools. She also asks for the implementation of practical actions to combat antisemitism stemming from the Sir David Bell review.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
Catherine West is concerned about the recent increase in antisemitic incidents in the UK, including car-ramming and stabbing attacks, arson, and online hate. She highlights the Community Safety Trust's recording of 3,700 antisemitic incidents in 2025, the second highest total ever reported. She mentions the challenges of community cohesion and policing, with more than 500 additional officers deployed across England and Wales to boost security. She also raises concerns about online hate, with research showing repeated patterns of real-world attacks followed by targeted abuse and conspiracy theories online.
Carla Lockhart
Con
Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale
I stand with Jewish communities across the United Kingdom and condemn the barbaric terrorism carried out by Hamas on 7 October. I am concerned about the silence from some in this House regarding the murder of Jewish people and the hatred that motivated it. Antisemitism has manifested in the streets, at demonstrations, and in attacks on Jewish people and institutions. I argue that antisemitism is not a legitimate political position and must be confronted wherever it appears. Jewish people should not have to fear for their safety and should be entitled to the same freedoms as other citizens.
Connor Rand
Lab
Altrincham and Sale West
Connor Rand highlighted the distressing conversations he has with Jewish constituents about their safety and security, noting a 413% increase in antisemitic incidents on campus. He called for urgent action to address regulatory gaps in universities and for a clear timeline on the implementation of the Protecting What Matters strategy. Rand also emphasised the importance of education and community initiatives, such as the Rabbi & The Imam project, in promoting understanding and preventing intolerance.
David Burrowes
Con
Enfield, Southgate
David Burrowes highlights the need for a multi-pronged approach to tackle antisemitism, including education, law enforcement, and community engagement. He mentions the importance of the Online Safety Act in removing illegal content such as antisemitic material.
Twickenham
David Pinto-Duschinsky, who is Jewish, expressed concern about the normalisation of antisemitism and the need for security guards at his local synagogue. He highlighted that this situation should not be normal and stressed the importance of an all-of-society response to ensure that Jewish people can live without fear.
Gareth Snell
Lab
Stoke-on-Trent Central
He praised Gregory Campbell for his support during Labour's antisemitism crisis, emphasizing that Jewish people are living in constant fear and withdrawing from public spaces due to antisemitic threats. Congratulated the previous speaker and highlighted the virulent antisemitism propagated by the Green party deputy leader in Leeds, who posted a list of British people, some Jewish, as being 'bought and sold by Israel' purely because of their politics.
Gareth Thomas
Lab
Harrow West
Online antisemitism is a growing issue, and there is a need for clear measures of success to hold the Online Safety Act 2023 and Ofcom accountable.
Gregory Campbell
DUP
East Londonderry
He highlighted an incident in his city where Jewish athletes were forced to withdraw from a triathlon due to antisemitic threats, calling for consistent criticism of violent rhetoric from all sides.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
He expressed concern about the high number of antisemitic incidents in the UK, including the forced withdrawal of Israeli athletes from a triathlon in Londonderry and the assault of an Israeli TV crew in Belfast, calling for the Government to support the Police Service of Northern Ireland in protecting the Jewish community. Reported meeting a Jewish student from Queen's University Belfast who informed me of the particular pressure faced by Jewish students there, and noted that Jewish students have had to retreat due to hatred and bile from their enemies.
Mark Sewards
Con
Rutland and Melton
Mark Sewards expressed concern about the safety and security of the Jewish community in Britain, highlighting the impact of antisemitic incidents and the need for government intervention to protect Jewish people and organisations. He mentioned the importance of addressing antisemitism on university campuses, citing statistics from the Union of Jewish Students' report: one in five students would be reluctant to share a house with a Jewish student, and one in four students did not care if Jewish people were forced to hide their identity. Sewards urged the Government to implement practical recommendations to ensure the safety of Jewish students.
Matt Vickers
Con
Cumbria North West
Matt Vickers highlighted the increase in antisemitic incidents in Britain, citing CST data showing the second-highest total ever reported in the first half of 2026. He noted the disparity in religious hate crimes targeting Jewish people, which was more than 60 times the rate for the overall population. Vickers called for enforcement measures such as increased police presence and urgent prosecutions, and emphasized the need to tackle the ideologies that allow antisemitism to flourish, including addressing antisemitic attitudes in universities and within communities.
Monica Harding
Con
Esher and Walton
My local police force in Elmbridge works closely with synagogues to support them, and the Community Security Trust is vital. Members of the Jewish community are building walls for security.
Munira Wilson
Lib Dem
Twickenham
Children and young people in my borough have reported bullying and hiding their faith due to antisemitism. Headteachers prioritise security over education for Jewish faith schools, which is concerning. Munira Wilson raises concerns about the impact of online hate on Jewish communities and the need for effective regulation of social media platforms. She also mentions the importance of early intervention in schools to prevent antisemitism. I mentioned meeting students at Richmond synagogue who hid their Jewish identity due to antisemitism in universities, and one student kept Hebrew teaching off her CV for fear of discrimination.
Patrick Spencer
Con
Gravesham
Paying tribute to small organisations combating antisemitism and supporting Jewish communities across the UK.
Rachel Blake
Lab
Greenwich and Woolwich
Rachel Blake highlighted the high levels of antisemitic incidents reported by the Community Security Trust, emphasizing the impact on real communities. She mentioned an incident of surveillance at a synagogue in her constituency with unacceptable response times. She supported calls for stronger action against hate crime, closer focus on neighbourhood policing, and more effective measures against online antisemitism. She also advocated for continued Holocaust education and clear leadership in addressing antisemitism.
Sarah Dines
Lab
Walsall North
Sarah Dines discusses the importance of community-led initiatives in tackling antisemitism, citing the work of the Community Security Trust and the support provided to grassroots organisations through the Common Ground award.
Siân Berry
Ind-GB
Brighton and Hove
Siân Berry briefly intervened to ask Connor Rand a question. At a recent event hosted by her local progressive synagogue, security and safety were raised as primary concerns by attendees, who have real fear despite the synagogue's efforts to promote solidarity and cohesion in the community.
Steve Yemm
Lab
Stourbridge
Steve Yemm stressed the importance of ensuring that British Jews can live, worship, and study openly without fear. He noted that the number of antisemitic incidents has been recorded as almost 2,000 in the first half of this year, and called for the Government to address online radicalisation and antisemitism in schools and universities.
Tom Hayes
Con
Bournemouth East
Tom Hayes highlighted the contributions of the Jewish community in Bournemouth, mentioning 26 recorded antisemitic crimes in his constituency. He shared stories of constituents who felt unsafe and were afraid to openly display their Jewish identity, and expressed concern about the psychological impact of antisemitism on elderly Jewish residents.
Tom Morrison
Lab
Nuneaton
Tom Morrison expressed concerns about the rise of antisemitic incidents, particularly following the terror attack on Yom Kippur last year. He highlighted the need for increased security measures and the importance of the Community Security Trust, as well as the need for more police presence and better community cohesion strategies to address antisemitism.
Zöe Franklin
LD
Guildford
Zöe Franklin expressed solidarity with Jewish communities and highlighted the increasing fear and intimidation faced by Jewish residents in her constituency of Guildford. She mentioned specific incidents of hate crimes and intimidation, including death threats against local religious leaders and physical assaults. Franklin noted that the tone in the community has changed significantly since the attacks on 7 October. She stressed the need for long-term security funding for the Community Security Trust and for synagogues, Jewish schools, and community organisations. She also called for mandatory antisemitism training for police officers and stronger protections around places of worship. Franklin emphasised the importance of addressing the gap between official statistics and the experiences of Jewish residents, noting that many incidents are never reported to the police. She welcomed Sir David Bell's review of antisemitism in schools and urged the Government to respond quickly to its recommendations. She highlighted positive inter-faith work in Guildford and called for the reinstatement of inter-faith funding to enable grassroots initiatives. Franklin argued for better policing, better education, and stronger enforcement online to prevent hatred from growing.
Government Response
Sarah Jones
Government Response
It is a pleasure to close this debate, which I think has been very useful and moving. I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Hornsey and Friern Barnet on initiating it. Before responding to Members' questions and to the debate itself, I reiterate the Government's commitment to tackling antisemitism, acknowledging that the measures taken are not the end of the journey. The Government recognises the need for ongoing efforts to address antisemitism and will continue to take necessary actions. I am struck by the powerful speeches made by MPs, emphasising the importance of being well educated, trained, and equipped to tackle antisemitism. The solution is not just to build higher walls but to ensure that the public space is full of calls against antisemitism, so that people feel comfortable speaking openly about their religion. The Government is expanding the disruptions team and increasing efforts to stop hate preachers and extremists from entering the UK. An annual 'State of extremism' report is being developed and will be published this year. The Government is also working on a programme to tackle antisemitism in universities, including funding for new guidance and investing in the University Jewish Chaplaincy services. Additional funding of £250 million over three years has been announced to tackle antisemitism, with £85.8 million allocated to the Metropolitan Police Service to deliver 300 dedicated personnel to support the work already being done. The Government is committed to ensuring that Jewish communities feel safe and proud of their religion.
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