Attacks on British Jews 'a crisis for all of us', says PM

Sir Keir Starmer has warned that a rise in attacks against British Jews is "a crisis for all of us" and requires a "whole of society" response.

The prime minister will meet senior figures from across public life to discuss growing antisemitism in Britain, which was brought into the spotlight last week by a terror attack in north London.

Essa Suleiman, 45, has been charged with attempted murder after two Jewish men were stabbed on Wednesday in Golders Green. The incident also saw the UK's terror threat level raised to severe.

Sir Keir described the incident as "utterly appalling" but said it was not isolated.

"It is part of a pattern of rising antisemitism that has left our Jewish communities feeling frightened, angry, and asking whether this country, their home, is safe for them," he said.

The prime minister will hold meetings with leaders from business, civil society, health, culture, higher education and policing and ask them to reflect on how they can move forward "at pace" to tackle antisemitism in their sector.

He will also focus on the domestic security implications of the Iran war, including a heightened threat to Jewish communities, during a ministerial meeting of the Middle East Response Committee.

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"It is not enough to simply say we stand with Jewish communities," Sir Keir will say later.

"We must show it. And that responsibility lies with each and every one of us. That is what today is about. Because only by working together can we eradicate antisemitism from every corner of society."

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has called for pro-Palestine marches to be banned because of their impact on Britain's Jewish community.

Sir Keir has suggested some could be stopped and wants "tougher action" against protesters who use certain phrases during pro-Gaza demonstrations.

He has said protesters at the marches have a responsibility to call out those chanting "globalise the intifada", which critics believe is a call to use violence against Israelis and Jewish people more widely.

But the Stop The War coalition has defended the marches, saying they pose "no threat" to the Jewish community and are attended by "thousands of Jewish people, often in a Jewish bloc".

(c) Sky News 2026: Attacks on British Jews 'a crisis for all of us', says PM