Starmer criticises Arts Council over inaction on antisemitism at summit on tackling Jew-hatred

Keir Starmer has launched a direct attack on the Arts Council, criticising its failure to act against organisations it funds when they are found to be promoting or platforming antisemitism.

He also warned Iran that efforts to stir up violence and hatred in the UK “will not be tolerated” amid suspicions Tehran could be backing antisemitic attacks.

Speaking to business leaders, communal representatives and government ministers at an event at Downing Street, the Prime Minister said:
“We will also expect more where public funding is being used to promote or platform antisemitism. The Arts Council must act, using its power to suspend, withdraw and claw back funding.”

In a speech outlining a whole-of-society approach to tackling the rise in antisemitic attacks, Starmer also issued a stark warning to the university sector, urging them to “demonstrate action” on antisemitism.

He said: “In our schools, colleges and universities, we’re investing £7 million to tackle antisemitism and ensuring that Holocaust education is taught in every school.

“And today, we’re going further. We already expect universities to set out and enforce clear disciplinary consequences for antisemitism, and we will hold them to account.

“Today, I can announce that we are raising the bar. When abuses take place, we are calling on universities to demonstrate real action.

“We now expect universities to publish the scale of the problem on their campuses, as well as the specific steps taken to clamp down on it. There will be zero tolerance for inaction.”

Starmer also announced that Arts Council and Home Office funding will be used to cover protective costs for Jewish artists and organisations, stating that rising fees are “forcing them out of public life”.

He added: “That is exclusion and it is unacceptable.”

Outlining an independent audit into how allegations of antisemitism are handled, Starmer said: “This will be a hard-edge review of where systems are failing.

“We will not, and cannot, accept complacency, delays or weak enforcement. Where inconsistency is found, it will be challenged and addressed swiftly.”

Starmer also warned that any attempts by Iran or other countries to incite antisemitism in Britain “will not be tolerated”.

He highlighted new security measures for the Jewish community, but said: “Security is essential, but that is not enough. We must also deal with the forces that drive this hatred in the first place, so we’re confronting them directly.

“One of the lines of inquiry is whether a foreign state is behind some of these incidents. We are investigating all possibilities, and we are clear there will be consequences if that proves to be the case.

“Our message to Iran, or any country seeking to foment violence, hatred or division in society, is that it will not be tolerated. That is why we are fast-tracking legislation to tackle these threats.”

At a roundtable attended by ministers including the Home Secretary, Education Secretary, Culture Secretary and London mayor Sadiq Khan, Starmer said: “We’re clear-eyed that antisemitism does not have one source alone: Islamists, far left, far right extremism, all target Jewish communities.

“That is why this Government has put in place the first co-ordinated national plan to strengthen cohesion and confront extremism in all its forms.”

Union of Jewish Students president Louis Danker also delivered an address at No.10, while Communities Secretary Steve Reed urged business leaders to take action within their own organisations when incidents of Jew-hate arose.

The summit was also attended by communal leaders including Board of Deputies president Phil Rosenberg,  Jewish Leadership Council chair Keith Black, Community Security Trust chief exec Mark Gardner and Holocaust Educational Trust chief executive Karen Pollock.

The PM invited leaders from business, civil society, health, culture, higher education and policing sectors to Downing Street on Tuesday demand a united response to rising antisemitism.

This followed the despicable antisemitic terrorist attack in London last week, a spate of serious arson attacks in recent weeks, and the terrorist attack in Heaton Park in October.

Attendees reflected on the forms antisemitism takes in their sector, the work they are already doing to tackle it and how they can go further at pace.

Each sector spent the morning in individual roundtable meetings, chaired by a Minister –  including Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, Education Secretary Bridget Philipson and Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy,

The roundtables included discussions with members of the Jewish community.

In a statement after meeting the Board and the JLC said:”We thank the Prime Minister for calling this summit at Number 10 with senior government ministers and civil society leaders.

“This has been an important moment to demonstrate a change in approach and we have used this opportunity to press government and civil society to take swift and meaningful action which addresses this hatred as the crisis it is.

“Today we discussed the steps needed to happen directly with those who are in positions to implement them. They must now prove their commitment with action.

“We also welcome announcements made over recent days and today, including unprecedented levels of funding for communal security; an expansion of the ‘Common Ground’ programme to channel money to areas with antisemitism challenges; new measures to suspend public funding to those promoting antisemitic content; and funding for the Board of Deputies’ new Jewish Culture Month, which starts on 16 May.”

The communal organisations added:” Our community is strong, proud and resilient. We call on all parts of our society to stand with us against extremism and hatred that threatens our shared British values of tolerance and inclusion.

“In particular we call on everyone to join us in Standing Strong against antisemitism in Central London on 10 May, and in participating in the UK’s first annual Jewish Culture Month – a nationwide celebration of Jewish culture, community and creativity.”

The meeting was attended by over 90 people, including representatives from the BBC, Channel 4, the National Theatre and Arts Council England.

Other attendees included Met and Greater Manchester Police leaders, representatives from the NHS, university sector and the Charity Commission.