'Every decent person in this country' fighting antisemitism, says Boris Johnson in Chanukah message

"Every decent person in this country" is fighting resurgent antisemitism alongside British Jews, Boris Johnson has said in his Chanukah message from Downing Street.

In a video released on Sunday, the prime minister said the festival was "a time to celebrate not just the miracle of the oil but your unique identity". 

"That's really important right now. I know that recent years have not been easy ones for British Jews," he said.

"In the media, on the streets and particularly online, antisemites have, in alarming numbers, been emboldened to crawl out from under their rocks and begin once again to spread their brand of noxious hatred far and wide.

"But as you kindle the Chanukah night tonight and on the nights to come, I want you to temember this.

When the Macabees drove the forces of farkness out of Jerusalem, they had to do so on their own.

"Today, as Britain's Jews seek to drive back the darkness of resurgent antisemitism, you have every decent person in this country fighting by your side.

"Because Britain would not be Britain without its Jewish community."

On Sunday, thousands of people turned out to Chanukah in the Square in Trafalgar Square, when London Mayor Sadiq Khan told the crowd: "This is your city and you’re going nowhere."

Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis said: "We're proud to be Jewish. We’re proud to be BritIsh. We’re proud of our Torah tradition.

"We will do everything we can to eradicate the scourge of antisemitism. We will not be silenced.”