Michael Gove tells Jewish Care he’s ‘proud to support its vital work’

Former minister Michael Gove addressed 120 guests at a business breakfast that raised more than £46,000 for Jewish Care. 

The editor of The Spectator and former MP for Surrey Heath was in conversation with James Harding, journalist and author, editor-in-chief of The Observer at the event at Claridge’s.

Gove spoke of Keir Starmer’s “steady hand on foreign policy”. Of Kemi Badenoch, he said: “She’s been proven right” on the big decisions. The biggest thing she has got right is something that hasn’t even surfaced yet – she is serious in bringing this country’s economy back into balance. And I predict now, that in September of this year there will be a bond market crisis afflicting this country.”

He added: “I am proud to support Jewish Care in its vital work, especially at a time when the need for assistance within the Jewish community who rely on the charity is greater than ever and when we are also witnessing a deeply concerning rise in antisemitism, globally and across the UK.”

Lord Leigh, chair of the business group committee, said: “This year continues to be an incredibly difficult time for the Jewish community with rising antisemitism both in the UK and globally. The demand for Jewish Care’s services is increasing, whilst government funding is shrinking.”

He noted that the rise in employers’ national insurance by £1.1 million, together with the increase in the cost of living and the growing pressure for end-of-life, dementia care and mental health services, “means Jewish Care must raise £20 million this year to continue to provide the very highest quality support and Jewish care to our community”, adding that the rise in antisemitism has been “particularly painful” for the survivors at the charity’s Holocaust Survivors’ Centre.

He described Jewish Care’s community centres as “a safe haven for them – where they can proudly be Jewish. For those living in areas where they no longer feel safe because of the threat of antisemitism, they can proudly feel safe in sharing their Jewishness with us.”

Ellisa Estrin, Jewish Care director of fundraising and marketing, added: “Over the next decade, the number of people in the Jewish community who will need dementia care will increase by 25%, more people will need end of life care than ever before, and the number of young people and adults who are living with mental illness and distress is sadly rising as well, whilst facing a national crisis in mental health service provision and older people’s social care.”