Why Starmer’s call for public to ‘open their eyes to Jewish pain’ is brave and significant

PoliticsOpinion
1 May 2026 • 5:01 AM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

Why Starmer’s call for public to ‘open their eyes to Jewish pain’ is brave and significant

Sir Keir Starmer's Downing Street address following the attack in Golders Green was "brave and significant," The Independent political editor David Maddox has said following the prime minister's statement on Thursday (30 April).

Providing an update on the government’s response after two Jewish men were stabbed, the prime minister said that the UK needs new powers to “tackle the malign threat posed by states like Iran” that “want to harm British Jews”, and called on "everyone decent in this country to open their eyes to Jewish pain, Jewish suffering and Jewish fear.”

The statement came after Sir Keir was heckled as he arrived in and left Golders Green to meet first responders and community leaders.