Minister: Everyone suffers when Jews are attacked

Communities minister Baroness Williams has said “everyone suffers” when British Jews are attacked as she heaped praise on a parliamentary group tackling the scourge.

The minister was speaking at a winter reception organised by the All-Party Parliamentary group against Antisemitism, which she said “does the whole nation a service”.

She told the gathering: “Everyone suffers when Jewish people are attacked because for their religious and cultural identities. This is because British Jews are British and Jewish.

“The Government works with police to provide the security the Jewish community needs, and this will be a priority for as long as it is needed.”

She added: “Hatred can be ideological – in which case it needs to be treated with the law, with education , with banning orders. or it is born of ignorance – in which case it is best dispelled through increased inter-community contact.”

Guests – including Luciana Berger, Wes Streeting, Oliver Dowden Baroness Deech and Lord Palmer – also heard from Commander dean Haydon of the Met and group chair John Mann.

This summer, the APPG made a series of recommendations to Government for how it could further tackle anti-Sermitism including online – with the Government pledging to meet them all.

Both Communities Secretary and Met Commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe had been due to address the event but had to withdraw at the last minute.