Cleverly holds talks with CAA chief Falter ahead of latest pro-Palestine demo
James Cleverly repeated his pledge to Gideon Falter that it 'will never be right for anyone of any religion to feel the need to stay away from anywhere in the public realm'
Lee Harpin is the Jewish News's political editor
James Cleverly has met with the chief executive of Campaign Against Antisemitism (CAA) Gideon Falter for talks about policing matters and the safety of the Jewish community.
The meeting, which came after the home secretary had held talks with Board of Deputies president Marie van der Zyl, saw Cleverly repeat his pledge that it “will never be right for anyone of any religion to feel the need to stay away from anywhere in the public realm.”
Crime minister Chris Philp also attended the meeting, which CAA later said was a”very positive meeting about what can be done to improve the policing of protests following the events of the past six months.”
The meeting took place ahead of the latest pro-Palestine demo in central London, with Falter again saying he was also turn up, having urged supporters to join him.
Jewish News understands senior police chiefs have discussed detailed plans for policing the event, over fears that those seeking confrontation may wish to exploit the situation, especially with the demo taking place days before the London mayoral election.
Meanwhile, a report in the Guardian revealed the Home Office considered appointing Falter as an adviser to its counter extremism unit but was warned against the appointment by the government’s antisemitism tsar.
The newspaper claimed there were strong objections to Falter being offered the part-time civil service role advising the Commission for Countering Extremism (CCE) in 2022 and that Lord John Mann told the then home secretary Suella Braverman he would quit if Falter was offered the post.
Falter said he was approached for the role by the unit’s commissioner but never applied or was formally offered it – and that he believes no similar role was ever created.
In a letter seen by the Guardian, Mann warned the Home Office that he feared that giving Falter the role would hinder cooperation with the main body responsible for monitoring antisemitism – the Community Security Trust (CST).
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