Lib Dem leader urges PM to adopt ‘comprehensive government strategy to tackle antisemitism’

Opposition Leader Kemi Badenoch thanked Starmer for his words on antisemitism, but said that words of solidarity were “not enough”.

“We know the evil we face. Islamic extremism is a threat to Western civilisation. It abuses our democracies and subverts our institutions. It is incompatible with British values. So, it is not enough just to protect Jewish communities, we must drive Islamic extremism out of this country”, she said, echoing comments she made at a Conservative Friends of Israel reception on Monday.

Davey also joined in the tributes to the victims of Bondi Beach, saying: “Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of all those who've been killed and injured in this senseless act of violence, and our thoughts for the whole Jewish community.”

The Lib Dem leader also used one of his two allotted questions to press the prime minister on the detail of how he plans to tackle rising antisemitism.

“We've all heard British Jews explain how they no longer feel safe in this country. Many of us have friends who volunteer to put on stab vests and stand guard outside their synagogue and at Heaton Park in October, we saw why. Antisemitism is real. It is poisonous. We must all work together to stamp it out”, he said.

“The Board of Deputies has called for a comprehensive government strategy to tackle antisemitism. So will the Prime Minister commit to that today and set out what concrete steps he is taking to make sure Jewish people are safe in Britain?”

In October, the Board, Jewish Leadership Council and Union of Jewish Students presented the government with a detailed set of policy proposals, including focusing on the threat posed by Islamist extremism, tougher prosecution of hate speech and measures to tackle anti-Jewish discrimination in cultural spaces and the public sector.

Starmer responded by thanking Davey for raising what he called a “really important issue”, adding that he thought it was vital “that we have actions that match the words that we have expressed in response to these horrific attacks”.

He continued: “The actions we have taken so far are increasing the funding for Jewish security up to £28 million. I'm pleased to do that, but I'm sad to do that: having to pay more money and to provide security for people to be at their place of worship and to go to school is a sad thing for this country to have to do.

“I've ordered a review of protest and hate crime laws to stop protests breeding hatred. We're looking at new police powers to deal with repeat and targeted protests, and we've launched a review and training to tackle antisemitism in the NHS. There are other steps that we're talking to the community about taking, but all of those actions have already started.”

Elsewhere at PMQs, former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn raised the issue of the welfare of Palestine Action activists taking part in a hunger strike as they await trial.

The independent MP for Islington North told the House that “many people are very concerned about the regular breaches of prison conditions and prison rules in respect to these hunger strikers” and asked Starmer to “make arrangements for the Ministry of Justice to meet representatives of hunger strikers to discuss these breaches of the conditions that they are experiencing”.

The prime minister, however, rejected Corbyn’s assertions, saying: “He will appreciate the rules and procedures in relation to hunger strikes, and we're following those rules and procedures.”