David Lammy booed at Manchester synagogue vigil as hundreds mourn victims
Heckling of Deputy PM punctuated an emotional vigil as Jewish, Muslim and Christian leaders rallied against hate in Manchester
Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy was booed and heckled as he addressed a vigil in Manchester this afternoon for two worshippers murdered in Thursday’s Yom Kippur terror attack.
Hundreds gathered outside the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation in Crumpsall to remember Adrian Daulby, 53, and Melvin Cravitz, 66, who were killed when a car was rammed into worshippers before a knife attack. Three others were seriously injured.
Lammy, attending alongside Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood and Deputy Labour Leader Angela Rayner, was introduced after an impassioned address from Jewish community leaders demanding urgent political action against antisemitism. Before he began, sections of the crowd jeered and shouted “shame on you” and “go to Palestine”. Mark Adlestone, chair of the Jewish Representative Council of Greater Manchester & Region, stepped in to calm the atmosphere, telling the audience: “All right, we’ve heard enough. We know how we feel. Let’s give the time for our deputy prime minister to address us.”
The deputy prime minister pressed on, telling mourners: “Today our hearts, our thoughts, our prayers, must be with the families and this Jewish community. That’s why we stand in solidarity with the Jewish people — because an attack like this is never felt alone. We stand with you against terrorism. We know it in this city, we have seen it before, and we will never stop fighting it.”
He added: “Jewish people, our friends, our neighbours, our loved ones, are becoming targets of antisemitic hate simply for who they are. But I know this community is strong and resilient. Our country — of all faiths and colours — stands with you.”
Earlier, Jewish Representative Council chair Mark Adlestone accused politicians of failing to confront Jew-hatred, declaring: “We demand action. Jew hatred cannot be allowed to continue. No longer can people claim to be anti-Zionist and yet not Jew-haters. We cannot allow Palestinian marches to become glorifications of death. We have to root out the ideology of hate – in places of worship, on campuses, and in the NHS – but not with hatred from our side. Words matter, and hate leads to tragedy.” He drew applause when he added: “We are proud British Mancunian Jews. We love this country and we proudly wave the Union Jack. Which flag do those who march against us wave?”
The vigil brought together Jews, Muslims, Christians and civic leaders. Muslim neighbours described the victims as “good men” and said they had come to “show solidarity with our Jewish friends and families”. Speaking to Jewish News, Rev. Dr Raj Bharat Patta, a Methodist minister who leads Stockport’s multi-faith network, called the attack “an assault on diversity” but said the vigil was about “celebrating unity in diversity”. The Bishop of Manchester told the crowd: “Today the heavens are weeping. Hate will never defeat hate — only love will defeat hate.”
Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham pledged change, calling the killings “an attack on all of us” and promising urgent meetings with Jewish representatives. Chief Constable Sir Stephen Watson praised the CST and synagogue members who prevented further bloodshed, and urged pro-Palestine demonstrators to reconsider protests this weekend: “You could do the responsible and sensitive thing and refrain on this occasion, out of respect for the Jewish community’s trauma.”
Closing the vigil, Rabbi Daniel Walker thanked emergency services and said the attacker “shut down the synagogue building, but he did not shut down our prayers”. He told the crowd: “Adrian and Melvin died as Jews for being Jews. The only way to defeat darkness is with goodness. We continued our services and we will continue tomorrow. He will not stop us from being Jews. We always rebuild, we always recover, we always return stronger.”
Despite the boos directed at the deputy prime minister, the overriding mood of the vigil was one of grief, resilience and solidarity. As one neighbour told Jewish News: “We must work hard to ensure we remain united. Love is the only way forward.”
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