Opinion
Nigel Farage: Antisemitism has infected the institutions of our country
Reform UK’s leader writes for the JC on the anniversary of October 7
October 7, 2025 05:03
2 min read
Reform UK’s leader writes for the JC on the anniversary of October 7
October 7, 2025 05:03As millions across the world take a moment to reflect on the terrible atrocities that took place on October 7 2023, I am appalled by another murderous attack that took place much closer to home.
The terrorist attack at the Heaton Park synagogue in Manchester on the morning of Yom Kippur last week was abhorrent. That such an act of terror could occur at a synagogue on the holiest day of the year for the Jewish people was deeply shocking.
My condolences go to the families who have lost loved ones, and I hope for a swift and full recovery to all who were injured. My thoughts are also with the Jewish community throughout Britain … a community that has contributed immensely to our Judeo-Christian culture, but now finds itself living in fear.
This attack has come amidst a wave of antisemitism that has swept across Britain. One that has become both blatant and normalised. The warning signs have been visible for many months. From hate marches in central London where demonstrators openly glorify terrorism, to graffiti defacing synagogues and Jewish homes – anti-Jewish sentiments are no longer confined to the dark corners of the internet. It has moved onto the streets and infected the institutions of our country.
The decision by this government to recognise Palestine as a state was nothing less than a reward for the atrocities that took place on October 7 2023. I fear that it has emboldened the hate marches that we see throughout our capital on such a regular basis. This permissiveness has created an environment in which hate speech – and even violence – against Jews can flourish with near impunity. I am afraid to say that Starmer’s Government has chosen to look the other way. It has made a cynical electoral calculation.
There must be a decisive change of course. That means applying the same standards to antisemitic incitement as are applied to other forms of extremism. Organisers and participants of hate rallies must be held to account. Disgusting chants from the likes of Bob Vylan must not be aired on the BBC.
We have got to face the facts head-on: Islamic extremism is a clear and present danger right here in the UK, and this shocking attack in Manchester last week is just the latest grim reminder that our so-called leaders are asleep at the wheel.
For years, I've been warning about the failures of uncontrolled immigration and the toxic cocktail of multiculturalism with a lack of integration, where radical ideologies are allowed to fester unchecked in our communities, all in the name of political correctness.
What happened in Manchester on Yom Kippur is a wake-up call. If Britain is to remain a country where all its citizens can live free from fear, we must confront the wave of antisemitism that has swept through our nation. On the anniversary of October 7, we should all reflect on that.
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