Government ‘very supportive’ of UK Jewish History Month initiative, confirms minister

The UK government is “very supportive of having a Jewish History Month” and would “welcome the community’s thoughts” on any initiative, housing minister Lee Rowley has told the House of Commons.

The minister made his observation following a backbench business debate on Thursday led by the Conservative MP Nickie Aiken, which honoured the contribution made to British life by UK Jewry and proposed a Jewish History Month be designated in the calendar.

Rowley told MPs it was “a privilege to respond on behalf of the government” on the “important issue.”

He added:”The government is very supportive of having a British Jewish History Month. It is the case that British Jews have played a vital role and contributed to this country, stretching back more than 2000 years.

“As has been already outlined by so many colleagues, leading talents in arts, in law, in philosophy, in medicine, in media, in finance, in the charity sector, in retail, and in wrestling. And from Peter George Davis, the founder of the Special Boat Service, to Jack Cohen the founder of Tesco…. to some of our greatest artists, Lucinian Freud,…British Jews have also made an outstanding contribution to British public life.”

Rowley also noted the influence the community had made to political life in Westminster, from Disraeli onwards, and added the creation of a Jewish History Month would offer an opportunity to recognise the importance of the community to the “fabric of British life.”

The minister said this was even more important after the horrors of October 7th in Israel.

But Rowley added any designated history month “would of course need to be meaningful and informed by the wishes of the British Jewish community themselves. ”

He said:”If this is something the community would encourage the government to support, we would welcome their thoughts on this motion.”

Labour shadow minster Liz Twist also said her party was “enthusiastic” about the history month idea.

As she addressed MPs, Aiken thanked the Jewish News for its “triple page” on the merits of a Jewish History Month, and said she hoped we would continue to support her campaign for one.

While it was vital to continue to mark the Holocaust and other events that have impacted on the Jewish community, Aiken argued it was “equally important that we must highlight and celebrate the achievements and contributions made” by British Jews.

The MP said it was “incredibly important” the community’s impact on life here was recognised.

During the debate Fabian Hamilton, the Labour MP for Leeds , noted the huge contribution to life made by Jewish people in his city. “The Jewish community in Leeds has a fantastic history and it’s going from strength to strength in 2024,” he said, praising the work of the Leeds Jewish Rep Council and Jewish Leadership Council for the work they do.

He noted how the Leeds Jewish Housing Association had for years supported over 20 per cent of the community, along with the work of Leeds Jewish Aid.

As he spoke, Sir Peter Bottomley, the father of the house in the Commons, said:”What’s different about Jewish history, which was put to me by one of my constituents after October 7th, which was ‘why do they keep picking on us?’

“There are 16 million Jews in the world, of whom about a quarter of a million are in this country. Their contributions have been magnificent. And not just those who are known. ”

Andrew Percy MP, said he “agreed with everything said” about the need for a history month. He said Jewish history in Yorkshire demonstrated the often complicated history of the community, in the cities of York and Hull.

He noted how Hull had been the city for “so many” Jews escaping persecution in eastern Europe prior to 1914, with many going elsewhere, but a small number remaining and having a “huge impact on the life of the city.”

Sir Michael Ellis, the former Attorney General, said there was “great merit” in having a Jewish History Month. He said the community here, and across the globe was characterised by “hope”.

Ellis said he wished to speak “to the Jewish community” urging them to “ignore the haters” noting how many civilisations who persecuted Jews had risen and then fallen.

In her speech, Charlotte Nichols light-heartedly referenced the lengthy contribution made to the sport of wrestling by the community.