Evidence of UK anti-Semitism stunned us – this issue is urgent for the whole country
Even with decades of these experiences, we were still stunned into silence by the evidence that we received as independent chairs of the Board of Deputies Commission on Anti-Semitism, particularly from young people in the Jewish community.
We spent months hearing evidence from the community, professionals and students about their experiences of anti-Semitism and were alarmed by the combination of the rawness of the impact of people's everyday experiences intertwined with the extraordinary routines and normality within which this is occurring.
We are two non-Jews from opposite sides of the political spectrum and we have both come to realise that if our Jewish community is facing discrimination, this is a failure of our society. We must ensure that everyone enjoys the rights and protections that we have worked so hard to develop over many years.
What are we meant to say as hardened politicians to a young Jewish female performer who told us that following October 7 venues and promoters, who the artist had worked with for years, no longer wanted to engage with her? Or to students who saw their research staff members coming from an encampment with a megaphone, and disabilities liaison staff members who Jewish student's trust with their health records shouting for an Intifada?
We were told about the experience of a Jewish member of a professional body describe that body as taking years to investigate incidents of anti-Semitism, and heavily editing articles about anti-Semitism and the Jewish experience so as not to cause 'offence' to its to broader membership.
We heard about the noisy demonstrations and how intimidating people find the current environment, but as we dug deeper what really scared us was the increasing normalisation of far more extreme, personalised and sometimes life changing impact directed at individuals purely and simply because they are Jewish. Worrying dilemmas of where Jewish professionals believed that their professional body was actively discriminating against them but where they required membership from this body to be able to work and acquire the necessary protections.
One of our 10 recommendations is that anti-Semitism cannot simply be sidelined as an issue of religious difference, allowing organisations to pretend to themselves that they don't have to deal with the thornier issue of racism directed against individual human beings.
This is an urgent issue not just for the Jewish community but for the United Kingdom as a whole. Jews have lived in this country for centuries and they have contributed greatly to our country. Any attempt to marginalise British Jews in our professions, cultural life, public services or any other arena harm us all.
We are all harmed if we tolerate the abuse of some of our fellow citizens by those who hold warped or extreme views. All we are trying is achieve is to add value to what others are already doing.
Typically with reports, we send a list of recommendations to government and this report certainly will be placed on the table of the Prime Minister and his Ministers and that of every political party leader.
But there is a wider responsibility that we are concerned about. All our institutions, public sector and private sector have a responsibility to their Jewish employees, customers, neighbours and partners, to ensure that they are treated with equal respect and are able to get on with their lives with no negatives.
Our recommendations are intended to help everybody to step up to the mark and play their small role in ensuring that we can each say to our Jewish friends, whoever they are and wherever they are, that you are not alone in our country.
Lord Mann is the Government's independent adviser on anti-Semitism. Dame Penny Mordaunt is the former defence secretary
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
13 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Police arrest dozens of protesters for supporting banned Palestine Action including vicar after activists' vows to go 'floppy' - a week after priest, 83, was among 29 seized
Police have today arrested more than 70 protesters for supporting newly banned terrorist organisation Palestine Action. A vicar was among at least 42 people detained by Scotland Yard officers as activists gathered for a second week in a row beside a statue of Gandhi in London 's Parliament Square, holding placards reading: 'I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action.' Another 16 arrests were made in Manchester and 13 people were also held in Cardiff at other related demonstrations on Saturday. A briefing document circulated to activists ahead of the action told protesters to 'go floppy' when they are arrested as it 'adds to the visual drama', reported The Telegraph. Five officers were today seen carrying one tattooed protester by her arms and legs, with one supporting her head. Some demonstrators could be seen lying on top of each other on the floor as police searched their bags and took their ID cards and handmade signs. Officers could then be seen carrying away a number of protesters who were lying down, lifting them off the ground and into waiting police vans parked around the square. Other standing protesters were also led away from the statues and placed into the vans. The last of the protesters was lifted from the Nelson Mandela statue shortly after 2.30pm. Those held were of mixed ages, from their 20s to 70s and many said they had jobs and had been arrested before. Officers could then be seen carrying away a number of protesters who were lying down, lifting them off the ground and into waiting police vans parked around the square. Other standing protesters were also led away from the statues and placed into the vans. The offences mainly related to Section 13 of the Terrorism Act 2000, an officer said. One protester, an architect called Steve, 59, said: 'I'm terrified. But some things in this world are bigger than fear of arrest. I will do whatever it takes to highlight this problem. 'They (the police) can do whatever they want. I don't care.' This Saturday is the second weekend Palestine Action supporters have protested and been arrested. A small group of protesters sat at the steps of the Mahatma Gandhi statue in Parliament Square for the demonstration, organised by campaign group Defend Our Juries, shortly after 1pm and received a brief applause. The individuals then wrote the message 'I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action' with black markers on pieces of cardboard and silently held the signs aloft, surrounded by Metropolitan Police officers, who formed a cordon, and members of the media. A number of demonstrators were carried away by police by their legs and arms after refusing to walk. A social care worker, who gave her name as Kate, 42, was taken away by police as demonstrators shouted 'free free Palestine around her'. Several people were arrested at Parliament Square in London for supporting newly banned terrorist organisation Palestine Action Around ten people in Parliament Square were held by a group of Met Officers next to a statue of Gandhi after they held placards which said: 'I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action' Officers could be seen carrying away a number of protesters who were lying down, lifting them off the ground and into waiting police vans parked around the square Others yelled 'from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free' - a controversial chant which some say is a call for Israel not to exist. Kate was holding a sign which said: 'I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action.' She said: 'It's shocking. I'm terrified. But the greater risk is genocide. That's more important. I don't have a phone. I've never been arrested before. 'I can't work because I've been trouble before connected to these activities. 'I was in social care. I had a good job. Nobody will employ me now. They'll think I'm a terrorist after this as well.' An elderly man - believed to be in his 70s - looked visibly unwell as he was taken into the back of a police van. A woman in her 40s was also taken away. Scotland Yard said its stance remains that officers will act where criminal offences, including support of proscribed groups or organisations, are committed. A spokesperson for the Met police said: 'We are responding to a protest in support of Palestine Action. Officers are in the process of making arrests.' This is the second round of protests in London in support of Palestinian Action and the group have said they will continue to take to Parliament Square every week. Last Saturday police arrested almost 30 people on suspicion of terrorism offences after protesters gathered in Parliament Square also holding signs supporting Palestine Action, just hours after a ban on the came into effect. One of those arrested was an 83-year-old priest and the Met said: 'The law doesn't have an age limit'. Around two dozen people, including a priest, professor and an emergency care worker who is just back from Gaza, sat in front of the Gandhi statue in Parliament Square on Saturday expressing support for the group, which is now a proscribed terrorist organisation. They held signs saying: 'I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action.' Shortly after their arrival, police officers could be seen engaging with the protesters and the Met said it had began making arrests. Several people were seen being carried away by officers. A spokesperson for the force said: 'Officers are responding to a protest in support of Palestine Action in Parliament Square. 'The group is now proscribed and expressing support for them is a criminal offence. Arrests are being made.' They later added: 'A total of 29 arrests were made during this afternoon's protest in support of Palestine Action in Parliament Square. They remain in custody.' It comes after the Home Office today last week the ban on Palestine Action, with the group failing to block its proscription as a terrorist organisation in a late-night legal bid. Lawyers representing co-founder Huda Ammori, whose father is Palestinian, asked for the decision to be delayed at least until July 21. The designation as a terror group means that membership of or support for Palestine Action is a criminal offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison. This includes chanting, wearing clothing or displaying articles such as flags, signs or logos. Palestine Action argues it is a protest group that has never incited or encouraged violence, but does support civil disobedience. Activists protest against the continuing war in Gaza, which has killed more than 57,000 Palestinians since October 7 - when 1,200 Israelis were killed by a Hamas incursion into the country. One of those protesting last week is former government lawyer Tim Crosland. He said: 'There are already 18 Palestine Actionists held in UK prisons without a trial, following lobbying by the Israeli government and Elbit Systems, the leading supplier of the machinery of genocide. 'If we cannot speak freely about the genocide of Palestinians, if we cannot condemn those who enable it and praise those who resist it, then the right to freedom of expression has no meaning, and democracy in this country is dead.' In a post shared on X, Defend Our Juries said the protesters had been arrested 'for holding cardboard signs' and that further arrests had been made at the Manchester demonstration. Scotland Yard said its stance remains that officers will act where criminal offences, including support of proscribed groups or organisations, are committed. The force added that this includes 'chanting, wearing clothing or displaying articles such as flags, signs or logos'. The terror group designation means that membership of, or support for, Palestine Action is a criminal offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison. The move to ban the organisation came after two Voyager aircraft were damaged at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire on June 20, an incident claimed by Palestine Action, which police said caused about £7 million worth of damage. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper announced plans to proscribe Palestine Action, saying that the vandalism of the planes was 'disgraceful' and the group had a 'long history of unacceptable criminal damage'.
North Wales Chronicle
14 minutes ago
- North Wales Chronicle
Antisemitism an ‘urgent issue' for all of British society, Penny Mordaunt warns
The former Conservative minister joined Lord John Mann, the Government's antisemitism adviser, in chairing an independent commission on antisemitism on behalf of the Board of Deputies, Britain's largest Jewish community organisation. Writing in the Telegraph newspaper, the pair described themselves as 'hard-nosed politicians' who are 'used to dealing with the extremes of human emotions and catastrophe'. But they added: 'Even with decades of these experiences, we were still stunned into silence by the evidence that we received as independent chairs of the Board of Deputies Commission on Antisemitism, particularly from young people in the Jewish community.' 'This is an urgent issue not just for the Jewish community but for the United Kingdom as a whole,' the pair added. They also said: 'We are all harmed if we tolerate the abuse of some of our fellow citizens by those who hold warped or extreme views.' Their warnings of growing antisemitic prejudices across British society, from the NHS to arts organisations and the police, comes as the report they authored is set to be published on Tuesday. Among its recommendations are that the NHS should hold a summit to tackle the 'specific unaddressed issue of antisemitism' within the health service. Lord Mann and former defence secretary Dame Penny set out 10 recommendations calling for educators, public services and trade unions to do more to tackle antisemitism. Among them was a recommendation for every NHS trust to have 'basic training on contemporary antisemitism'. They stated: 'From evidence that we heard, we can identify that there is a specific unaddressed issue of antisemitism within the NHS. We recommend that a summit should be held with NHS leaders across the UK to begin to address this.' They noted an 'identifiable lack of consistency and capacity in antisemitism training' and recommended the creation of a specific antisemitism training qualification, adding that such training should be included within equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) in organisations and institutions. Efforts to teach primary school teachers how to avoid passing on antisemitism and anti-Jewish tropes in their lessons should be rolled out in faith schools across the UK, the commission said. It added that professional organisations and trade unions should ensure that all Jewish members are treated equally and with respect, while there must be a consistent approach taken by police when dealing with antisemitic crimes. The commission said it had seen evidence of 'hidden barriers being put in front of Jewish involvement within the arts' and said there must always be a 'robust response for those who choose to discriminate and government at every level should ensure this'. Lord Mann said: 'It is unacceptable that the Jewish community has faced an onslaught of antisemitism since October 7th. 'Whilst this is not new, the commission heard shocking experiences that we will not ignore. Antisemitism is racism and it must be treated as such. We hope these recommendations will provide additional guidance and action for civil society.' Dame Penny said: 'No person should face abuse or discrimination whilst going about their business, whether it is pursuing the career of their choice or accessing public services. 'We wanted to suggest some very practical things that can be dealt with swiftly and will dramatically improve people's experiences.' Board of Deputies president Phil Rosenberg said: 'Overall, the challenge in civil society can be summarised as one of a failure to apply the protections rightly afforded to different vulnerable groups equally to Jewish people in the same positions. 'Many sectors promote strong Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) processes, which are very important, but too often, these protections seem to exclude Jews.' He said the board will insist that 'Jews must count' and will use the recommendations of the commission's report 'to ensure that they do'. An NHS spokesperson said: 'It is completely unacceptable for anyone to experience racism, discrimination or prejudice in the health service, whether staff or patient, and the NHS takes any instance of antisemitism or discrimination extremely seriously. 'The NHS provides care and treatment for everyone regardless of race, faith, or background and all NHS healthcare providers should have policies in place to address issues like this in the workplace.'
Times
17 minutes ago
- Times
UN expert demands Scottish government uphold sex-based rights
The United Nations expert on the rights of women and girls has told SNP ministers to immediately implement the Supreme Court ruling on the definition of 'sex' in law. Reem Alsalem, newly re-appointed as the UN special rapporteur on violence against women and girls, said there should be no 'pause' in action to ensure the sex-based rights of women were upheld and the Scottish government should 'actually get on with it and do it' 'I do not think we should pause or put on hold any action awaiting this guidance, and I don't think the Supreme Court said that either,' she said. Scottish ministers said they were waiting for guidance from the Equalities and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) before implementing the court ruling, which has significant implications for single-sex spaces such as changing rooms, refuges and lavatories as well as in sports, healthcare and public appointments. An EHRC consultation on the guidance closed on July 1. Alsalem said: 'While it is good you will have guidance, I do agree with those who say that there is a lot that can and should be implemented. It is not that there is ambiguity about all aspects of what the Supreme Court says.' The Supreme Court ruled this year against Scottish ministers in favour of the campaign group For Women Scotland, finding that 'sex' in equality law referred to biological sex and not gender identity. In an interview with The Sunday Times, Alsalem also said that organisations had 'punished' those who stood up for their sex-based rights. Referring specifically to Sandie Peggie, the nurse at the centre of an employment tribunal against NHS Fife, Alsalem said that public bodies that failed to support a woman's right to single-sex spaces were going 'against what is now the law of the land'. 'Particularly since the Supreme Court ruling, punishing women because they indicate their support for their sex-based right at work seems to me to be very problematic and goes against what is now the law of the land,' Alsalem said of the Peggie case. Peggie, a nurse at the Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy, was suspended by NHS Fife last year after she complained about having to share changing facilities with Dr Beth Upton, who is male but identifies as a woman. • Sandie Peggie tribunal: NHS Fife in major 'blunder' as trans discrimination case resumes Alsalem was a vocal critic of the Scottish government's reforms to gender recognition legislation, warning in 2022 that proposals for self-identification could 'open the door for violent males who identify as men to abuse the process of acquiring a gender certificate and the rights that are associated with it'. Ministers pushed back on this suggestion and Shona Robison, then the social justice secretary, said there was no body of evidence pointing to 'bad-faith actors' trying to use statutory processes to abuse women and girls. In calling for the Scottish government to act, Alsalem added: 'If businesses and state-affiliated institutions and government entities recognise that this is the right thing to do, and now this has also been said clearly by the Supreme Court, they actually get on with it and do it.' Last month she presented a report to the UN human rights council in which she assessed gender-based violence in the UK. She wrote in the report: 'Women and girls, as well as their male allies, who wish to reassert their needs and rights based on their sex and have asserted the immutable nature of sex have been ostracised, attacked and punished by state and non-state actors, including political parties, universities, private employers and the media, for their beliefs and opinions.' Her findings said that the UK and Scottish governments must ensure the Supreme Court ruling was upheld by employers and healthcare providers and that it was incumbent on ministers to provide guidance on how to ensure the protection of single-sex spaces. A spokesman for the Scottish government said it had made it 'clear' that it accepted the Supreme Court's findings and that 'detailed work' was 'ongoing' to draft guidance. Alsalem also said it was of importance that Police Scotland clarified its approach to data collection and ended its practice of conflating biological sex with gender identity. 'The conflation of sex and gender data, in particular prioritising self-identified gender, erases biological sex records, distorting the male-driven nature of violence against women and girls and hindering root-cause analysis,' she said. 'This approach undermines crime statistics and policy effectiveness in relation to violence against women and girls.' The government spokesman added: 'We have already updated our guidance for the Gender Representation on Public Boards (Scotland) Act 2018 and are amending the recruitment process for appointments to regulated public bodies. In addition, Police Scotland has published interim guidance on searching of transgender people.' Alsalem also backed proposed legislation to criminalise buying sex and said that Scotland should outlaw child marriage. She expressed support for the Nordic model — a system that criminalises men for buying sex and decriminalises women doing sex work. Her report recommends the Nordic model is introduced across the UK and Alsalem said she supports a new bill proposed by Ash Regan, the Alba MSP. 'The data emanating from countries that apply the Nordic model shows very clearly that it works,' she said. 'And data that comes from countries that legalise all aspects of prostitution — I don't use the term sex work, because you are not doing work and you are not selling sex. It is exploitation and abuse and it's not a regular job.' However, she said, the bill before the Scottish parliament did not go far enough and should be extended, as in Sweden, to cover websites such as Only Fans. The Scottish government has confirmed that it will consult on the issue of child marriage in Scotland, looking at raising the age of consent to be married to 18. Alsalem gave her support to the proposal, saying child marriage was a crime and that the minimum age for legal marriage should be raised to be 18, in line with elsewhere in the UK.
