ANTI-SEMITISM is a “crisis for all of us”, the Prime Minister said as he addressed a gathering at Downing Street on Tuesday. It was attended by the Bishop of Willesden, the Rt Revd Lusa Nsenga-Ngoy, and leaders from police, business, trade unions, and the arts.
Sir Keir Starmer referred to the “utterly appalling” attacks in Golders Green, in North London, last week (News, 1 May), and the attack on Heaton Park Congregation Synagogue in Manchester last October, (News, 2 October 2025).
“But they were not isolated incidents,” he said. “It is part of a pattern of rising anti-Semitism that has left our Jewish communities feeling frightened, angry, and asking whether this country, their home, is safe for them. 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.”
Bishop Nsenga-Ngoy, who is the Church of England’s lead bishop for interfaith engagement, told the Church Times this week: “The urgency of this conversation is clear: hatred, in any form, corrodes our common life and demands a collective response that is both principled and practical.
“What matters here is not only the seriousness of the issue, but the breadth of those willing to engage it. Bringing together voices from across sectors. . . signals that this is not a concern for one group alone, but a shared responsibility.”
He continued: “The content of the summit itself underlined this ‘whole-of-society’ approach. Government commitments focused on both immediate protection and longer-term cultural change.”
Sir Keir also announced that universities would be expected to publish an audit of anti-Semitism on campuses and explain how it is being tackled. “There will be zero tolerance for inaction,” he said.
While Sir Keir was speaking, it emerged that fire crews had been called out to an alleged arson incident in Nelson Street, Whitechapel, in the early hours of Tuesday morning.
Commander Helen Flanagan, the head of counter-terrorism policing for London, said: “This incident follows on from a number of arsons and attempted arsons targeting Jewish Londoners in the north-west of the city and we will be considering any potential links as their investigation gets under way.”
Two people were arrested on Monday on suspicion of arson after a memorial wall in Golders Green was damaged.
The Metropolitan Police said that the men who were stabbed in Golders Green last week — one in his seventies and one in his thirties — were treated at the scene, and that both were in a stable condition in hospital. “The suspect also attempted to stab police officers and was tasered before being arrested. No officers were injured,” the statement said. “A 45-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder. He was taken into custody, where he remains.”
Church leaders have strongly condemned the string of incidents in recent weeks, including an anti-Semitic attack on four ambulances belonging to a Jewish charity, in March (News, 27 March).