'Many Jews I know now wonder if they have a future in Britain'

Former Labour MP Ivan Lewis says a surge in Jewish hatred, encapsulated by this month's terror attack on a Manchester synagogue and the antisemitic rhetoric on pro-Palestine marches, has left Britain's Jewish community shaken to the core

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BRITAIN must stand up to a “relentless surge of Jew hatred”, not just for the sake of the country’s Jewish communities but for the good of the whole nation, according to a former foreign minister who is appalled at the murderous extremism which has shaken his home city.

Ivan Lewis, who lives a short distance from the Manchester synagogue attacked this month, described the horror at the attempt to kill fellow Jews on October 2.

“It's always a massive shock and trauma when a terrorist attack takes place on your own doorstep, targeting your friends and neighbours just because they are Jews,” he said.

The 58-year-old fears many of Britain’s Jews are now considering quitting the UK.

“What saddens and concerns me is many Jewish people are questioning whether they have a future in this country and whether they can stay here safely and securely,” he said. “That is a relatively new reality.

“It used to be a tiny minority maybe felt like that. It is now a significant number who are asking that question every day: Is Britain a place I want to live in as a Jew? Am I going to be safe here or is it time to pack my bags and go somewhere else?”

There was further alarm this month when Maccabi Tel Aviv fans were banned from next month’s match against Aston Villa on the advice of Birmingham’s Safety Advisory Group.

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