West Yorkshire Combined Authority adopts IHRA definition of Antisemitism

The West Yorkshire Combined Authority has adopted the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism in response to a report into equality and inclusion.

The Mayor of West Yorkshire Tracy Brabin committed to adopting IHRA at the Jewish Leadership Council -Board of Deputies of British Jews-Leeds Jewish Representative Council Councillors Seminar in March and again during her visit to the Marjorie and Arnold Ziff Community Centre in May.

It means IHRA has now been adopted in full in Leeds, Wakefield and Bradford and by Calderdale councils who are constituent members of the Combined Authority.

Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire Combined Authority said: “West Yorkshire’s strength comes from its diversity but sadly discrimination, racism, islamophobia and antisemitism still exist here.

“That’s why it was important that we today formally adopted the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of Antisemitism.

“Our local Jewish communities face increasing threats and it is important we stand by them and understand the changing nature of the scourge that is antisemitism.”

Simon Myerson QC, Chair of the Leeds Jewish Representative Council said: “We are delighted that the Mayor of West Yorkshire Tracy Brabin and the Combined Authority has adopted the IHRA definition, and are grateful to the mayor and her staff for their diligent work in ensuring that local communities are protected.

“The definition is, of course, only a tool: West Yorkshire had almost the highest rate of increase of antisemitic incidents last year, and we look to the police and public authorities to ensure that this rise is halted.”