Starmer to host No 10 summit to tackle antisemitism

The prime minster will host a summit on tackling antisemitism in Downing Street, following the stabbing of two Jewish men in Golders Green.

The terror threat level has been raised to severe, with a spate of suspected antisemitic attacks in recent months.

Sir Keir Starmer has now called in police, business and cultural leaders to Downing Street in an effort to "eradicate antisemitism from every corner of society".

Announcing an extra £1.5m in funding to strengthen community cohesion and protect Jews in areas where they face the greatest risk, the PM said: "It is not enough to simply say we stand with Jewish communities".

The prime minister has faced criticism from many in the Jewish community following the Golders Green attack that the government has not done enough to keep them safe and was heckled when he visited the north London suburb on Thursday.

The prime minister will say the attack was "part of a pattern of rising antisemitism that has left our Jewish communities feeling frightened, angry, and asking whether this country, their home, is safe for them".

The Metropolitan Police declared a terrorist incident following the stabbing of Shloime Rand, 34, and Norman Shine, 76, on Friday last week.

Essa Suleiman, 45, has been charged with three counts of attempted murder in relation to the attack on 29 April, including a third man - Ishmail Hussein, who knew Suleiman - who was attacked earlier the same day.

Sir Keir will add: "These disgusting attacks are being made against British Jews. But, make no mistake, this crisis – it is a crisis for all of us.

"It is a test of our values. Values that are not guaranteed, but are earned. Every single day, through our actions."

He has announced an extra £1m will be added to expand the £4m Common Ground programme, led by the Ministry of Communities, Housing and Local Government (MCHLG).

The funding will help local people – especially those from Jewish communities and Jewish organisations who have been hit hardest recently - take rapid, visible action, ranging from community safety work and targeted youth and schools initiatives, to interfaith projects and programmes to challenge antisemitic narratives or hate crime.

An additional £500,000 will also be allocated to Barnet Council, north London, Sir Keir said, reflecting recent serious antisemitic acts in the borough and the large number of Jewish residents there.

Tuesday's summit will see discussions with members of the Jewish community, hosted by senior ministers, with leaders in their sector, reflecting on identifying the forms of antisemitism on display and what can be done to tackle it.

Expected guests include Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley, Chief Constable Sir Stephen Watson from Greater Manchester Police, as well as university vice-chancellors, Arts Council England, NHS bosses and trade union leaders.

The prime minister will also convene ministers in the afternoon for a Middle East Response Committee meeting, which No 10 said would focus on "the domestic security implications of the conflict in the Middle East, in particular the heightened threat to Jewish communities in light of recent attacks".

Last week, the terrorism threat level in the UK was increased from "substantial" to "severe" for the first time in four years.

Two Jewish people were killed in October last year and three left in a serious condition after a car ramming and stabbing attack outside a synagogue in Manchester. One of the men was killed by a bullet fired by police.

There have also been a number of arson attacks against sites linked to Jewish communities in recent weeks.

On 23 March, four ambulances belonging to Jewish charity ambulance service Hatzola were set alight. Three men and a teenager have been charged.

On Monday, the Metropolitan Police confirmed it had arrested two people on suspicion of arson in relation to an attack against a memorial wall in Golders Green earlier this month.

The head of counter terrorism policing in London, Helen Flanagan, said the force was "working on a number of investigations into incidents that have taken place in north west London since the attack on Hatzola ambulances in Golders Green in March".

She added: "We have made a total of 30 arrests and nine people have been charged."

Last week, the government announced an additional £25m in funding for increased police patrols in areas with large Jewish populations, and enhanced security at synagogues, schools and community centres.

There has also been a £7m investment in tackling antisemitism in schools, colleges and universities.