Tory MP wants ‘unwavering efforts’ to stop antisemitic offences
Conservative MP Nicola Richards warned of 'the disturbing reality' of rising antisemitic offences in the UK during Westminster Hall debate
Lee Harpin is the Jewish News's political editor
Conservative MP Nicola Richards has called for “unwavering and uncompromising efforts” to tackle the “the disturbing reality” of rising antisemitic offences in the UK.
Leading a Westminster Hall debate, the MP for West Bromwich East, warned: “As we begin 2024, let us be clear.
“Policing must be robust, with zero tolerance. Sentencing must not be lenient. Education must be improved and widespread.
“Relevant authorities, whether they be universities, councils or companies, need to work to support Jewish colleagues, employees or students, and ensure that they recognise their duty of care.”
Recalling her visit last week to Israel to witness the horrors firsthand of the October 7th terror atrocity she added:”This is my message to those engaged in antisemitism in response to a conflict in a place they are unlikely to have visited or know much about.
“Last week, I met people my age who had survived a massacre at a music festival purely because of their immense courage and chance.
“I met heartbroken but determined families of hostages and people killed. I witnessed a nation still overcome with grief. For those who diminish what happened on 7 October—or worse, seek to justify it—I hope they will never witness what those strong and brave people did.”
Richards raised the issue of antisemitism on display at pro-Palestinian marches in this country, urging minister Lee Rowley to offer “clarity” on “what the Government are doing to ensure that the rallies are not hotbeds of antisemitism, and how much it has cost to police them effectively.”
In Tuesday’s debate Richards called for social media companies to act over anti-Jewish hate, asking minister Rowley to “set out in detail the work that Ofcom is doing in relation to not just the platforms that I have mentioned but small, high-risk platforms such as 8kun and Rumble, both generally and specifically with regard to hate being spread by technology systems during the current Middle East conflict.”
For Labour, Sharon Hodgson MP agreed:”Let us be clear: these antisemitic attacks are nothing less than the latest iteration of the oldest hatred.
“In the charges levelled against Zionists—that they control the media and the Government, that they are disloyal, greedy and bloodthirsty, and that they are ideologically akin to, and collaborated with, the Nazis—we see the repetition of classic antisemitic tropes and smears.
“Our country, which rightly prides itself on its tolerance and its rejection of extremism, cannot allow antisemitism to go unchecked and unchallenged. We need swift, tough and comprehensive action to tackle anti-Jewish racism.”
Conservative MP Andrew Percy also raised concerns about the BBC’s reporting on the Israel’s response to Hamas terrorism on October 7th.
“Sadly, we have now seen that ingrained in parts of the media,” he said. ” I am a big supporter of the media and the BBC, and I have never bought into the Defund the BBC campaign.
“However, I have serious concerns about some of the coverage we have seen—about how Israel has been singled out for special treatment, which is directly putting Jews in this country at risk. It plays into those tropes of bloodlust. Hamas’ figures on civilian casualties are reported without qualification or reference to the BBC being unable to verify their figures.”
Labour’s Liz Twist also raised concerns about the final state of the government’s Online Safety legislation.
She asked”Does the Minister agree that, as colleagues have said this afternoon, the Online Safety Act 2023 was stripped of its powers to effectively monitor and challenge online safety incidents? What steps are the Government taking to tackle antisemitism online?”.
Summing up Housing Minister Rowley said:”It is customary to start debates like this by saying that it is a pleasure to serve—and, of course, it is an absolute pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Ms Vaz—but in truth, it is not a pleasure to be here today.
“It is not a pleasure to have listened to some of the absolutely outrageous stories that we have heard over the past half hour. It is not a pleasure to be sat in a debate that should not be needed at all. There is no pleasure to be had in this discussion, and I know that all colleagues here and outside this place share in that.
“This debate is not a pleasure, but it is most definitely a necessity. It is a necessity, because in this seat of democracy there is an opportunity to call out the appalling acts of a tiny minority in recent months.”
Rowley added:”We are proud of our Jewish communities, just as we are proud of every single other community that makes up this rich patchwork of the United Kingdom, and we stand with them today.
“The United Kingdom is so much more than the isolated ugliness that we have seen. This Government and this Parliament—all parties here—and this country will continue to do whatever we can to build a stronger foundation to support our Jewish community in the months, years and decades ahead.”
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