EXCLUSIVE: Government launching ‘comprehensive action plan’ to tackle rampant UK antisemitism

Keir Starmer has launched a “comprehensive review” into government efforts to tackle the rise of antisemitism in the UK, following the deadly Manchester synagogue terror attack that saw two British Jews lose their lives.

Stung by the criticism he has faced following last week’s Yom Kippur attack outside the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation shul, the Prime Minister has urged ministers across government departments to urgently prioritise a cross-government action plan to stem the rising tide of Jew-hate across UK society.

Communities Secretary Steve Reed told Jewish News that security of the UK community “is clearly a priority” for the government, after the deaths of Adrian Daulby, 53, and Melvin Cravitz, 63, in last Thursday’s attack at their local shul.OPINION: Manchester Islamist terror attack was damning indictment of UK’s failure to stop upsurge in antisemitism

Writing for Jewish News, Reed also confirmed that the cross-government review would involve efforts to tackle antisemitism “at source and in all its forms – on our streets, in our workplaces, public institutions, on campus, in the arts and sport.”

In a message to readers and the wider community, he added:”We will continue to work with you at pace over the coming days and weeks to keep your communities safe and secure, to root out antisemitism from our institutions, and tackle these beliefs head on in schools, on campuses and in our workplaces.”

It is understood that senior ministers, including Health Secretary Wes Streeting, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson, and Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy, are among those expected to further outline moves to counter antisemitism in speeches.

One senior government source said the “comprehensive action plan to combat antisemitism” would involve a series of high-level announcements over the comming days.

Streeting is expected to announce an overhaul of the way medical regulators General Medical Council (GMC) and Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) investigate cases of antisemitism over concerns they are failing to protect the community.

On Tuesday, a letter was sent by Phillipson to university vice-chancellors stating:”It is critical Jewish students are able to conduct their studies and to express their Jewish identities on campuses in safety.”

She warned that in the aftermath of the October 7 Hamas attack, and now after the Manchester shul horror, the increase in antisemitic behaviour has become “intolerable.”

Phillpson was said to be “furious” after learning that students at multiple universities had taken part in anti-Israel protests again on the second anniversary of the Hamas atrocity on Tuesday.

Reed told Jewish News:”Since last week’s horrific attack, the Home Secretary has announced that she will give police forces new powers to put conditions on repeat protests and she will look more widely at policing protests to make sure officers have the powers they need to keep people safe.

“I have written to council leaders telling them to use the Public Order Act to protect Jewish schools, community centres and synagogues, and the Education Secretary has also written to university vice-chancellors to make sure Jewish students have the support they need”.

But confirming an ongoing cross-government review, Reed said, “We know we need to do more.”

The minister, a long-time ally of Starmer’s, said the”Islamist” terror attack, carried out by 35-year-old Jihad Al-Shamie, was “a damning indictment of the country’s failure to stop an upsurge in antisemitism that has left so many Jewish people living in fear”.

On Wednesday, as he flew to India, the PM confirmed to journalists that he plans to toughen up laws around the use of chants and banners at Palestine protests that could be seen as being antisemitic or inciting violence.

“I think we need to go further than that in relation to some of the chants that are going on at some of these protests,” Starmer said.

The PM is also concerned that police chiefs are failing to fully exercise the powers they already have under existing laws when tackling rising antisemitism and violent threats from a minority of protesters.

Starmer confirmed his government would be “talking at length to leaders of the Jewish community about this, as you would expect.”

Last Sunday, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood confirmed police in England and Wales are set to receive new powers to limit repeated protests, with officers authorised to consider the “cumulative impact” of demonstrations when deciding whether to impose restrictions.

Mahmood highlighted repeated concerns raised by Jewish communities since October 7 over pro-Palestine demos, describing the changes as “an important step in ensuring we protect the right to protest while ensuring all feel safe in this country.”

Reed has also written to local authorities urging them to use existing resources and powers to ensure Jewish communities are protected, including limiting protest activity where necessary.

The government will also review existing legislation, including powers to ban protests outright and measures contained in the forthcoming Crime and Policing Bill.

Reed added, “We see this mission against the forces of extremism as one for the whole of government. Whether they’re from the far left or the far right or the radical Islamism we saw last week, extremists will have nowhere to hide.

“Today, tomorrow and always, we will stand with the Jewish community and for the overwhelming majority who believe the UK should always be a place of compassion, decency, dignity and belonging.”

Writing for Jewish News, Foreign Secretary  Yvette Cooper also pledged the government would “do everything in our power to keep the Jewish community safe, and ensure that international debates on foreign policy are never allowed to justify prejudice or abuse here at home.”

Jewish News understands that work had already begun on developing a more robust stance from the government on tackling the scourge of antisemitism prior to last week’s murderous attack on the community by 35-year-old Jihad Al-Shamie, who counter-terrorism police believe was inspired by “extremist Islamist ideology.”

Al-Shamie was on police bail for an alleged rape when he carried out a car ramming and stabbing attack at a Manchester synagogue.

Daulby, 53, and Cravitz, 63, – who both attended their local shul, were killed in the attack, while three people were hospitalised.

Starmer returned early from a European summit in Copenhagen after the attack in Manchester, which spread fear through a community already reeling from a sharp rise in antisemitic incidents.

“To every Jewish person in this country, I want to say this: I know how much fear you will be holding inside of you. I really do,” he said.

“And so on behalf of our country, I express my solidarity, but also my sadness that you still have to live with these fears. Nobody should have to do that. Nobody.”

Downing Street sources told Jewish News the PM was “angry and upset” after he was informed of last week’s terror attack. “You know how committed he was to tackling the scourge of antisemitism in Labour – he wanted to have that same commitment to dealing with the issue in wider society,” added the source.

One of the first calls the PM made after learning of the attack was to telephone Mark Gardiner, the chief executive of the Community Security Trust.

On returning to the UK last Thursday Starmer attended a Yom Kippur synagogue service with his wife Lady Victoria in London, along with chancellor Rachel Reeves and Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper.