‘We’re reaching a national emergency’ Badenoch sounds alarm over synagogue arson attacks
Tory leader speaks of fears over spate of shul attacks
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has claimed we are getting to the stage of a national emergency over the spate of arson attacks on synagogues in this country.
Asked about the attack on Kenton synagogue last weekend, she told LBC’s Nick Ferrari: “As a black woman in this country, I have never seen the level of racism, discrimination, intimidation and attacks that have been directed at the Jewish community.”
She added: “And I think that if people were fire bombing black churches, the way that synagogues have been attacked — people killed, being fire bombed, the ambulance services being fire bombed — I think there’d be a national emergency. I think we’re getting to that stage.”
In the wake of the Manchester attack, Badenoch condemned what she called a “vile and disgusting” assault, saying: “I know many in our Jewish community will feel shaken. They deserve to know they are not alone.”
She also said the UK’s Jewish community had faced “an increase in the climate of intimidation and fear” and added: “One of my core beliefs is that we need to make sure that Britain is a safe country for Jewish people.”
She has also called for foreign antisemites to be deported from the UK, saying: “Anything that’s inciting violence against Jews, that sort of thing, has got to go,” and accusing those who use the language of anti-Zionism as cover for antisemitism: “It’s being used as a cover – ‘anti-Zionism’ being used as cover for antisemitism.”
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