The family of a primary school student were fearful of revealing her Jewish identity as part of their application, the communities secretary revealed on Tuesday morning.
Steve Reed was speaking in Downing Street at a summit in response to rising antisemitism which he said required “a whole-of-society approach” to tackle.
The Streatham and Croydon North MP explained that he had spoken with members of a local synagogue in Streatham this Saturday and that what his Jewish constituents were having to go through was “unacceptable”.
“People were telling me how they were afraid to wear a kippah when they're going about in the street, to wear necklaces with the Star of David. And this sounds like a small thing, but for me it was so telling”, he said.
Reed then recounted the story of a grandfather whose granddaughter was about to register to start primary school: “They had to fill in the form, giving her background. They were too afraid to write in the section on religion that she was Jewish, for fear of how she might be treated. This is in our country in 2026. It is entirely unacceptable.
“It is entirely unacceptable. It's not normal that there should be barbed wire and armed security guards outside places of worship, outside community centres, and outside school. And our job is not done until that level of security is not required.”
The summit was also addressed by the prime minister, and participants included Jewish communal leaders, cabinet ministers, senior police officers, businesses including the CBI, Barclays and PWC, representatives from the BBC, Channel 4, National Theatres and Arts Council England, trade union officials and church representatives.
Reed added: “Today is about action, not just words. We need to find out what your organisations can do faster, and more quickly, and more incisively to keep our Jewish community safe. We need to call out racism when we see it.”
Separately, the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government announced an extra £1 million funding increase to tackle antisemitism and strengthen community cohesion in places deemed to be facing the greatest risk.
An immediate £500,000 was also allocated to Barnet Council, reflecting recent serious antisemitic incidents in the borough and sizeable Jewish population.
The funding is on top of the additional £25 million announced by the government in the wake of the Golders Green terror attack last week.
The department says it will allow affected communities and Jewish organisations to take rapid action: “ranging from community safety work and targeted youth and schools initiatives, to interfaith projects and programmes to challenge antisemitic narratives or hate crime.”
In a statement alongside the announcement, Reed said: “The horrific rise of antisemitism and anti-Jewish hatred in Britain and across the world is intolerable. I will not rest until Britain is a place where every Jewish person can live openly, safely and proudly.
“While we know there is more to do, we believe that quickly channelling government funding directly to the communities and places facing the greatest risks today will help local partners to take early, practical action to keep people safe, strengthen communities and stand up to hate.”
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