Misinformation and immigration to blame for rise in anti-Jewish hate, says Kemi Badenoch

CONSERVATIVE Party leader Kemi Badenoch has blamed an increase in antisemitic hate incidents on misinformation and immigration.

Asked why there has been an increase in antisemitism, she told GB News: “I think we’re seeing a rise in misinformation. You see lots of misinformation about Israel, about Jewish people on social media, even on the BBC. Remember that Panorama interview.

“In this country specifically, we are also seeing an increase, to be honest. It’s happening across Western Europe, an increase of people coming from cultures, countries where there is a culture of antisemitism, hatred against Jews, people with that particular historical culture are of increasing number here.

“So this is why I said we need to toughen our immigration policy. It’s not enough that people come here to work. They need to be able to abide by our norms and our values, and if they can’t, they should be sent back.

“We need to start cracking down on the sources of the antisemitism, not just the symptoms. It’s not just enough to say, let’s have more security guards and a bit more money. Let’s tackle the root of it.”

On a claim from Suella Braverman that she did not support her proposal to ban the IRGC while in government, Badenoch said: “There was no Cabinet meeting that I was in where the IRGC was discussed. And we need to stop believing every single thing that people say.

“This is exactly why people don’t trust politics after the fact. Let’s see the evidence of what people were saying at the time. Suella has lots of grievances. She’s gone to a new party. Now, why doesn’t she actually try and achieve something instead of criticising her old party?

“I am here right now standing with the Jewish community. They’re not interested in who said what in Cabinet. What they want to know is what we’re going to do now. And what I said to Keir Starmer is that if he’s ready to do this, we will help him. We will offer votes.

“The National Security Act is also there, which helps with organisations like the IRGC. Let’s talk about what we can do. This [talk] of what happened in the last government is a conversation for drama queens and losers, and I’m fed up with it.

“Some people did their jobs and others didn’t. The people who didn’t do their jobs should stop whining about it.”

Asked if she supported banning the IRGC, Badenoch said: “Yes, yes. And I’ve actually offered, I’ve written to Keir Starmer and said, ‘Let’s do this’.”