Starmer slams Polanski over ‘disgraceful’ antisemitism comments

Keir Starmer has launched a scathing attack on Zack Polanski after he spoke of British Jews facing “perceived” and “actual” antisemitism, branding the Green Party’s leader’s observation as “disgraceful.”

Speaking to Jewish News during his visit to Kenton United Synagogue in north-west London—where he surveyed the aftermath of last weekend’s antisemitic arson attack and met with Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis, United Synagogue leaders, and members of the congregation—the Prime Minister was asked for his response to Polanski’s remarks about rising antisemitism.

Starmer told Jewish News: “I think it’s disgraceful, and to even suggest that this is a perception of the reality is to totally misunderstand antisemitism.

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“This is very real. It’s visceral, and it’s felt throughout the whole community, and anybody denying or belittling that is guilty of all the usual assumptions in relation to antisemitism.”

He added:”It’s really important. I have no doubt in my mind about just how real this is and the impact it’s having.

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“You have families and individuals who are worried about whether they can wear their traditional clothing and jewellery in public when they have to hide their identity, which is very, very real. You have people who’ve been subjected to an attack in this very synagogue who are clearly feeling very fearful, and I think it’s disgraceful for anybody to suggest otherwise.”

Starmer’s criticism followed Polanski’s interview with Haaretz, in which the Green Party leader acknowledged the rise in antisemitic attacks affecting the community.

Polanski said: “Now, there’s a conversation to be had about whether it’s a perception of unsafety or whether it’s actual unsafety, but neither are acceptable.”

He had also accused the Labour Party of “weaponising” antisemitism claims against Green Party candidates in the lead-up to the local elections.

In a wide-ranging interview, Starmer also pledged to “bring forward” legislation to proscribe Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), telling Jewish News: “I am increasingly concerned about a number of countries using proxies in our country to carry out attacks, and that’s why it’s very important that the connection between the police, counter terrorism, police, CST and the community is strong and working.

“I’ve been getting regular briefings in relation to that, and I’m glad there’s been quite a number of arrests and charges more broadly.”

He continued: “In relation to malign state action proscription, but we do need to take further action, including measures on proscription that will require legislation. We intend to bring that forward. It is particularly important we do that.

“Of course we need to put in place the necessary changes in law in relation to protests, and root out the antisemitism we have found in schools and colleges, and even the NHS.

“But we will bring forward legislation and we are making sure the police and CST are working very closely because the use of proxies in this country is a real and growing concern.”

Last year, the government’s independent reviewer of terror legislation, Jonathan Hall KC, said new laws were needed to tackle state-run organisations such as the IRGC, which delayed Labour’s pre-election pledge to proscribe the group once in government.

Jewish News also questioned Starmer about Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch’s claim that racism against Jews is not taken as seriously as that faced by other communities, including Black people.

“We will fight racism and hatred in all its forms,” the PM replied when asked if he agreed with Badenoch’s assessment. We help nobody by trying to suggest there’s a hierarchy of racism and hatred.

“We must fight all of it, because this is a fight for the country that I believe in. A country where people are free and secure, whatever their identity, and that’s why I see this very much in relation to these latest antisemitic attacks.

“Not just coming up alongside the Jewish community to support them in their fight, that isn’t how I see it, although we must, of course, support this in every way that we can.

“It’s actually our fight. It’s my fight, because I want to live in a country where not just the Jewish community, but all communities, religious communities feel that they can practice their religion. They can have their identity without fear of intimidation and attacks like these.”

Despite a packed schedule that included a speech in Newcastle in the north-east earlier in the day, Starmer was commended by Rabbi Mirvis for making time to visit Kenton United Synagogue and meet with the community.

The Prime Minister began his visit with a private meeting with Chief Rabbi Mirvis, followed by discussions with United Synagogue leaders, including President Saul Taylor, Chief Executive Jo Grose, Rabbi Yehuda Black, Chief Operating Officer David Collins, and community chair Ruth Black, who described how she and a team of volunteers responded in the immediate aftermath of the arson attack.

While Starmer’s visit was welcomed, community leaders and members did not shy away from expressing their fears, frustration, and anger at the ongoing attacks and urged the government to turn tough rhetoric into concrete action.

Among the demands was the urgent need to proscribe the IRGC, amid widespread concern that pro-Iranian organisations are behind the wave of antisemitic incidents, offering financial inducements—often to young people—to attack synagogues and other Jewish buildings.

Asked whether he was surprised by the anger and frustration he heard during the meetings, which also included conversations with older members of the community at a regular synagogue coffee afternoon, Starmer said: “It was really important for me to hear it… It’s difficult to hear the levels of anxiety.

“I’m not surprised because of the nature of the attack on this synagogue and the impact it must have had on them.

“I’m also not surprised because, sadly, I’ve heard too many from our Jewish community express the same deep personal concern and anxiety about these ongoing attacks and the rise in antisemitism we’ve seen, particularly in recent years.

“But it is nonetheless really important that I hear it, carry that with me to ensure that we drive ahead with the necessary measures that we are taking.”

At the outset of the meeting, Starmer told those assembled: “I’ve come here to stand with you.

“The Britain that I want is a Britain where people can practice their religion, their faith, in safety and security.

“That’s amongst the reasons I wanted to come here personally myself this afternoon to hear first-hand from the people affected by the attack this weekend.”

Chief Rabbi Mirvis highlighted the community’s anxiety following the attacks.

After his meeting with Starmer, he said he had asked the Prime Minister to “guarantee the normalisation of antisemitism in the UK will stop, and that there will be zero tolerance.”

Rabbi Mirvis also told the Prime Minister that there was a need to finally proscribe the IRGC and “all other terrorist organisations, whether state-sponsored or not.”

Later, the Chief Rabbi told Jewish News that his role enabled him to have “many opportunities to share thoughts and information”
with the Prime Minister.

“It is important that at all times I be open with him to bring to his attention the anxieties of our community together with the resilience of our community,” he said, when asked about differing perspectives within the community on issues like Israel and the government.

“He is certainly aware from the many occasions that I have met him how deeply worried our community is at this time.”

Rabbi Mirvis added: “Both in my conversations with the Prime Minister today and Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood yesterday, when I had a one-to-one conversation with her, I called on them both to guarantee that the IRGC, Muslim Brotherhood and any other terrorist organisations need to be banned, and this is long overdue.

“And if the government wants to win the confidence of our community, it must accelerate the proscription of such organisations.”

Despite the concern and worry, Mirvis also offered reassurance to the community, noting: “Isn’t it really so encouraging that our Prime Minister came to a synagogue today?

“He spent one hour and twenty minutes here, more than his schedule allowed, at a time in which we all know he is very preoccupied with many major issues.

“It’s a statement that our government wants to be seen to care, and places the security and well-being of our community as a priority.”

Earlier, United Synagogue President Saul Taylor had criticised the government’s delays over the IRGC proscription and called for steps to halt pro-Palestinian hate marches.

Taylor also addressed the enormous costs of security at synagogues, saying: “The charity now spends upwards of £1m a year on security. It cannot be right that in modern Britain this level of security should be necessary.

“It is also not right that a charity should be footing the bill. This eye-watering amount of money could be spent on programming and engagement, but instead is spent on guards and CCTV systems. This has to change.”

Kenton’s Rabbi Yehuda Black had told the PM: “Thank God nobody was hurt, and the damage is contained.

“The attackers did not succeed in scaring us. Our community continues to come together undeterred. We have had a number of gatherings since the attack, and nobody has been scared off from coming to the synagogue. Whoever the perpetrators are, they failed.”

A 17-year-old boy from Brent, north-west London, has pleaded guilty to arson not endangering life at Kenton United Synagogue.

Another teenager was arrested and released on bail, while police continue to search for two additional suspects.

The attack involved climbing over the synagogue wall, smashing a window, and throwing a petrol bomb inside, causing smoke damage to an internal room.

In a statement the United Synagogue later said: “Today the Prime Minister visited Kenton United Synagogue.

“The Prime Minister came to show his support and solidarity after the arson attack over the weekend.

“Sir Keir listened as Kenton’s Chair, Ruth Topper, recounted what it was like to be woken in the middle of the night to be told her synagogue had been firebombed and to see her shul cordoned off by police tape. One community member said that their father fought fascism 80 years ago and told his children they were now secure in Britain – but that is no longer the case. Members expressed fears for the safety of their children and grandchildren.

“We explained to the Prime Minister that the community won’t be cowed but some members feel anxious and we don’t want to keep building ever higher walls around our shuls. We are committed to protecting our staff and ensuring our members can live full Jewish lives but the ever-increasing cost of security – which has risen to over a million pounds a year beyond the government funding we receive via CST – means charitable funds are being spent on guards and CCTV equipment rather than Jewish engagement.

“We also explained to the Prime Minister that the Jewish community wants and expects actions. The proscription of the IRGC – a terrorist group responsible for attacks around the world – seems a basic bare minimum. We also raised outlawing the Muslim Brotherhood and doing more to stop hate preachers.

“We thanked the Prime Minister for joining us and we will continue to ensure our community’s concerns are heard at the highest levels of government to enable Jewish life in this country to thrive.”