Starmer to host Downing Street summit to address antisemitism

Sir Keir Starmer will host senior business, culture and policing figures in Downing Street on Tuesday as part of coordinated efforts to tackle antisemitism with a "whole of society" approach.

Announcing the summit, the prime minister said "it is not enough to simply say we stand with Jewish communities", and that effort was needed across sectors to "eradicate antisemitism from every corner of society".

It follows a spate of suspected antisemitic incidents in recent months, including the stabbing of two Jewish men in Golders Green on 29 April.

The home secretary, communities secretary, health secretary, education secretary and culture secretary will each chair meetings with leaders from their sector.

No 10 has not confirmed exactly who will attend the talks.

But it said representatives from business, civil society, health, culture, higher education and policing would take part in individual round-table discussions with members of the Jewish community, hosted by the ministers.

They would be asked to reflect on the forms antisemitism takes in their sector, the work they are already doing to tackle it and how they can go further.

The prime minister will also convene ministers in the afternoon for a Middle East Response Committee meeting, No 10 said, "focused on the domestic security implications of the conflict in the Middle East, in particular the heightened threat to Jewish communities in light of recent attacks".

In opening remarks, the prime minister is expected to say the Golders Green attack was "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 will add: "These disgusting attacks are being made against British Jews. But, make no mistake, this crisis – it is a crisis for all of us.

"It is a test of our values. Values that are not guaranteed, but are earned. Every single day, through our actions."

Suspect Essa Suleiman, 45, has been charged with three counts of attempted murder in relation to the attack.

Shloime Rand, 34, and Norman Shine, 76, were stabbed in the north London suburb, while a third man - Ishmail Hussein, who knew Suleiman - was attacked earlier the same day.

The Metropolitan Police declared the Golders Green attack a terrorist incident.

Two Jewish people were killed in October last year and three left in a serious condition after a car ramming and stabbing attack outside a synagogue in Manchester. One of the men was killed by a bullet fired by police.

On 30 April, the terrorism threat level in the UK was increased from "substantial" to "severe" for the first time in four years.

There have been a number of arson attacks against sites linked to Jewish communities in recent weeks.

On 23 March, four ambulances belonging to Jewish charity ambulance service Hatzola were set alight. Three men and a teenager have been charged.

On Monday, the Metropolitan Police confirmed it had arrested two people on suspicion of arson in relation to an attack against a memorial wall in Golders Green earlier this month.

Cdr Helen Flanagan, head of Counter Terrorism Policing London, said the force was "working on a number of investigations into incidents that have taken place in north west London since the attack on Hatzola ambulances in Golders Green in March".

She added: "We have made a total of 30 arrests and nine people have been charged."

Last week, the government announced an additional £25 million in funding for increased police patrols in areas with large Jewish populations, and enhanced security at synagogues, schools and community centres.