Islamist extremism a key source of antisemitism in the UK, says Communities Secretary
Communities Secretary Steve Reed has said that Islamist extremism is a driver of hatred against Jews in the UK, while accusing the Green Party of failing to discipline candidates arrested for alleged antisemitism.
Reed made the comments ahead of a Downing Street summit on antisemitism convened by the Prime Minister in the wake of the Golders Green attack.
He told GB News: “I recognise that Islamist extremism is one of the sources of this, and that’s why the Home Secretary and the new legislation that’s gone through Parliament has new powers to ban hate preachers coming into this country and spreading that kind of hatred about the Jewish community.
“So yes, we recognise it, and yes, we need to tackle it, but the government alone can’t have all the answers. I think what I’ve just outlined is helpful.
“It’s going in the right direction, but we need the whole of society to get behind us and call this out for what it is, and that is racism, pure and simple.
“We need the leaders of all faiths, not just the Jewish faith, but Christians, Muslims, all the other faiths to come together and call out this racism when we see it.
“We need civil society leaders, leaders of our communities, leaders of our businesses, to call this out for what it is.
“We need the Green Party to do what the Labour Party did and kick out members of their party who are openly antisemitic. In my borough, where my constituency is, two Green Party candidates have been arrested for allegations of stirring up racial hatred.
“Instead of condemning them, the Green Party has put out a letter saying that the Labour Party is spreading cynical misinformation.
“These people were arrested for hate crimes targeting the Jewish community. One of them was back out on the doorsteps this weekend. We have photographic evidence of knocking on doors now.
“Zack Polanski, come on, these people are spreading antisemitic hatred. You cannot put them up for election.
“You cannot back them, and you cannot shut your eyes and pretend this problem doesn’t exist. We only tackle racism by calling it out and stopping it. And all of us have a responsibility to do that.”
