MPs will have the chance to quiz ministers on the coalition government’s policies to tackle antisemitism next January, thanks to the efforts of two backbench MPs from opposing parties.

The debate, to take place in parliament on January 20, is the first one focused on antisemitism to be set up by backbench MPs.

John Mann and Mike Freer, respectively the chair and vice-president of the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) Against Antisemitism, instigated the debate to give MPs the opportunity to discuss ways to tackle antisemitism.

Mr Freer, elected to Finchley and Golders Green for the Conservative party in May, said: “Sadly there has been an upswing in cases of antisemitism in the past few years.

“We need to take this opportunity to press home to ministers that this problem is not going away.”