Government urged to go ‘further and faster’ in tackling Jew-hate after mixed response to action plan

The government has been urged to go “further and faster” with its actions to counter rampant antisemitic hate after the publication of an action plan setting out “recent and next steps” was met with a muted response.

The plan, published with little fanfare last Wednesday, outlines both recent achievements and upcoming steps, and emphasises the need to be “bolder in calling out hateful ideologies.”

Much of the document highlights ongoing work with organizations such as the Antisemitism Policy Trust, the Board of Deputies of British Jews, the Community Security Trust, and the Jewish Leadership Council.

Efforts to address antisemitism in the arts, sports, education, workplaces, the NHS, and on social media are detailed.

However, in the wake of the terror attacks at Sydney and Heaton Park Synagogue, many expected a more robust response to the threat posed by radical Islamism—both in the UK and globally.

In the foreword to the 14-page report, Prime Minister Keir Starmer reaffirmed his commitment: “Rooting out antisemitism in my political party was the single most important task for me when I became Labour Leader. And I am just as determined to root it out of our country.”

He also highlighted the dangers from “far-left, far-right, and Islamist” sources, and condemned the way “protesters’ anger at the actions of the Israeli government has often crossed the line,” sometimes justifying or calling for violence against Jews.

“All forms of antisemitism have the same impact: fear, isolation, a breakdown of trust between communities, and normalisation of extremist views,” Starmer wrote. “Not only is antisemitism morally unacceptable, but it is a threat to the fabric of this nation.”

The Board of Deputies welcomed the government’s update, acknowledging the collaborative efforts with communal partners.

But they stressed the need for immediate action, especially after the incidents at Heaton Park and Bondi, stating, “The normalisation of eliminationist rhetoric like ‘Globalise the Intifada’ must no longer be tolerated. Action must now follow.”

Senior government sources told Jewish News the document does not capture the full scope of measures underway, particularly in response to the recent attacks.

They indicated that the government plans to intensify efforts to counter radicalisation and extremism within the Muslim community in the coming year, with a major push on “community cohesion” expected early next year.

The work on the issue by Communities Secretary Steve Reed, whose department published the action plan, has also been commended by several communal figures.

“He just gets it,” one said source, “and he has shown that he understands and cares about the issues at stake.”

“Now the government needs to go further and faster,” they added.

Speaking to Jewish News this week, the Prime Minister reiterated the urgency of tackling “Islamist ideologies,” stressing the importance of enlisting the support of the vast majority of British Muslims, who “abhor” extremism, in combating the Islamist threat.

Yet, the action plan has faced criticism for being insufficiently robust.

Lord Walney, former independent adviser on extremism, labelled it “timid when British Jews feel under siege and demand tougher action.”

Another senior Labour source noted that addressing both the causes and symptoms of radicalisation is a slow, complex process—one that requires not just government action but a broader response from public institutions.

“I think what the report demonstrates is that tackling the cause and the symptoms is a long, hard slog,” they told Jewish News.

“Radicalisation across society is about combating the rise of Islamism, and also the catching up of liberal institutions to that dogma.

“The problem the government has is that obviously this is a problem for them, but it’s also a problem across society, for public institutions.

“What was interesting was the far more positive reaction from the community to the statement from the Metropolitan Police and Greater Manchester Police on the new guidance over ‘Globalise The Intifada’ chants.”

It is not clear why Starmer did not at least reference this move by the two police forces at Prime Minister’s Question Time last Wednesday, especially as he had previously made it clear in the Commons a few months ago that he considered “globalise the intifada” to be a call for an attack on Jews outside of Israel.

One Labour source, though, speaking to Jewish News, also warned against the impact on society of the call by some communal organisations for the wide-scale banning of pro-Palestine marches.

“I don’t think rational-thinking British Jews really want that sort of society… societies with that element of state control tend not to be too good for Jews.”

But another senior communal figure insisted British society itself needed a “fundamental reset” it order to defeat the threat posed by Islamism.