Commons Speaker pays personal tribute to Manchester synagogue terror attack heroes
EXCLUSIVE: Sir Lindsay Hoyle meets with Jewish Rep Council chief exec Marc Levy, whose father Alan helped barracade shul door during Yom Kippur attack
Speaker of the House of Commons Sir Lindsay Hoyle has paid a personal tribute to the bravery of Manchester community members who barricaded the doors of the Heaton Park synagogue during the Yom Kippur terror attack.
Earlier this week, Sir Lindsay invited Marc Levy, chief executive of the Jewish Representative Council of Greater Manchester and Region, to his Westminster office to express his condolences and solidarity with the community.
“We discussed the importance of speaking responsibly in the Chamber to ensure hatred is not promoted,” Levy said following the meeting. “We have publicly criticised those MPs who invoke Holocaust inversion and incite hatred against our community.
“Too many MPs have used appalling language that does nothing but create division between our communities. This was also a good opportunity to inform the Speaker of what we are looking to achieve from government as our community comes to terms with being targeted in a deadly terrorist attack.”
Asked about his decision to arrange the meeting as soon as Parliament re-opened after the party conference season, Sir Lindsay told Jewish News: “I am sure the bravery of Marc’s father, Alan, and other congregants in helping to barricade the doors of Heaton Park synagogue saved lives. This was a horrific attack, and I was so relieved to hear that Alan was safe.
“As soon as Parliament was back from recess, I asked Marc to drop in so he could update me on his dad, but also so I could express my thoughts for the Jewish community, the loved ones of those affected, and the brave first responders.”
Following the attack at the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation, Sir Lindsay ordered the flags outside the Commons to be lowered in respect for those killed and injured in the Islamist-inspired atrocity.
Two members of the congregation, Melvin Cravitz and Adrian Daulby, were killed after Jihad Al-Shamie, 35, drove a car at members of the public before stabbing people outside the synagogue on 2 October.
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