Rabbi Baginsky praises Starmer for recognising ‘centrality of faiths’ at Downing St event
Jewish, Muslim and other faith leaders join the prime minister for his first interfaith breakfast event at No 10
Lee Harpin is the Jewish News's political editor
Keir Starmer has vowed to reconvene a Downing Street meeting of faith leaders in six months time after his first gathering was praised by Rabbi Charley Baginsky for recognising the impact religious representatives can have in helping formulate policy.
Jewish News had first revealed how the Prime Minister had invited faith leaders from the Jewish, Muslim, Sikh, Hindu, Christian and others religions to a breakfast event at No 10 as part of his commitment to inter-faith week.
Among those to attend Thursday’s event, alongside Progressive Judaism’s co-leader Rabbi Charley, were representatives from the Muslim community including Imam Asim Hafiz and Akeela Ahmed.
Ari Jesner, the Chief Executive Officer of the Office of the Chief Rabbi, was also at the breakfast as was Lord Khan, the Faith Minister.
The PM began by reaffirming that this is a government of service – and that means a government in the service of all communities.
“That concept of service is a value which drives me in terms of what we’re trying to achieve in government,” he said.
“Are we serving all of our communities? Are we serving the communities and the congregations that you represent?”
Starmer then highlighted how the role faith plays in society was particularly apparent during the pandemic.
“It showed that faith anchors people,” he said. “We suddenly entered this complete unknown – a pandemic that none of us had really even imagined. Life suddenly changed.
“And in that moment, so many people across the country reached for their faith.”
It is understood that while conversation at the breakfast centred on the vital importance of interfaith work to maintain cohesion between communities in this country, there was also an encouragement from the PM for faith leaders to play their part in formulating policy across a wide-range of areas in the future.
In his speech Starmer also stressed that he intended to hold a second meeting of faith leaders in six months time, in a sign that he did not want the conversations to be limited to commemorating the annual interfaith week in November.
Rabbi Charley told Jewish News: “It is very pleasing that the Prime Minister and Government realise the centrality of faiths when thinking about policy in the UK and the vital role we have to play in all areas of society.
“I am looking forward to continuing these important conversations in the months and years ahead.”
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