Starmer vows to tackle ‘poison’ of antisemitism in UK

WorldPolitics
17 Dec 2025 • 2:00 AM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

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Jewish people must not be “cowed by terror”, Sir Keir Starmer said as he vowed to root out antisemitism in the UK.

The Prime Minister, speaking at a Hanukkah reception in No 10, said there needed to be a change in culture, saying: “Antisemitism is not just a problem for Jews, it’s a problem for us all.”

The gathering, which was also addressed by Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis, came in the wake of the Bondi Beach massacre in Australia.

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Sir Keir said: “We do come together to celebrate Hanukkah but we also come to stand together in solidarity because I know the whole community has been shaken once again, not for the first time, by the abhorrent attack on Bondi Beach.”

He added: “We need to stand together in defence of the Jewish way of life, of the liberties and freedoms that make our British way of life.”

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Sir Keir said he was “determined to defeat this poison of antisemitism together”, adding: “We must not be cowed by terror.”

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