Commons Chamber

Monday 13th October 2025

(began 2 hours, 22 minutes ago)

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None Portrait Q7. What steps he is taking to support the building of social housing in rural towns and villages. (905823)
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Bev Maguire.
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None Portrait Q8. What steps he is taking to bring long-term empty homes back into occupation. (905824)
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Bradley Thomas.
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None Portrait Q9. Whether he plans to include community-led housing within the long-term housing strategy. (905825)
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funding and taking it forward to deal with an issue that affects every single council across the country. Thank you.
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None Portrait Q10. What assessment he has made of the potential merits of the capital funding request from the Coalfields Regeneration Trust. (905827)
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Not the deployment.
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None Portrait Q15. What steps he plans to take to reform the leasehold system. (905832)
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Can we just say it's Adlington in Cheshire, not Lancashire reliably? Sureena Brackenridge.
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Shabana Mahmood Portrait Rt Hon Shabana Mahmood KC MP, The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Birmingham Ladywood, Labour)
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I call the secretary. a statement on the terrorist attack on the 2nd of October and the action this government is taking in response. May I start by calling this attack what it was an evil act of anti-Semitic terrorism that targeted innocent worshippers on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar. And that was carried out by a terrorist pledging his allegiance to the warped ideology of Islamism. Let me pay tribute to the two men who were killed that day.

Melvin Kravitz and Adrian Dolby. Their bravery saved countless lives. On behalf of the whole House, I would like to offer my deepest sympathies to their families and their friends. May their memory be a blessing. A further three men were seriously injured in the attack. I know all of our thoughts are with them, alongside all those who are caught up in these terrible events. I would like to also thank those whose bravery saved lives. Worshippers, staff and volunteers from the Community Security Trust and the emergency services who acted with speed and the utmost professionalism.

This is a moment of profound national sorrow, an attack on our Jewish community is an attack on this entire nation, and it calls on us to assert once more our determination to tackle extremism, antisemitism and hatred wherever it appears. Mr Speaker, while the events of that day are painful to recount, it is important that we do. On the morning of Thursday, the 2nd of October. A terrorist drove a car at worshippers outside the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation synagogue in Crumpsall, Manchester.

The driver then left his vehicle armed with a knife and resumed his attack. He was wearing what was later determined to be a fake explosive device, though it should be remembered that all present had every reason to believe that bomb was real. When the first call came into the emergency services, Greater Manchester Police declared a major incident and firearms officers were deployed within seven minutes of that call. The attacker had been intercepted and shot dead. Melvin Kravitz was killed by the attacker.

Tragically, initial findings now indicate that Adrian Dalby sustained a gunshot wound during the armed police response. As is standard in such cases, an investigation is being carried out by the Independent Office of Police Conduct, the iOPC. But there are two things I can say. Firstly, it is important to note that the iOPC has confirmed the officers involved in the response are being treated as witnesses. Secondly, it must be remembered that the police acted in a situation where they believed a terrorist was likely to detonate an explosive device.

The necessary processes must now take their course, and I expect the iOPC to complete them as quickly as possible. Mr Speaker, there is no ambiguity around who is responsible for the deaths and injuries that took place on that day. Members will be aware that the attack was carried out by Jihad Al Shami, a 35 year old British citizen of Syrian descent. We know he came to this country as a child and was registered as a British citizen while still a minor.

He was never referred to the prevent programme, nor was he known to counter-terrorism, policing or the security services. He had, however, recently been arrested on rape charges, for which he was on bail at the time of the attack. Investigators believe the attacker was influenced by extreme Islamist ideology, evident in A999 call that he made during the incident in which he pledged allegiance to Islamic State. Six people were arrested following the attack and were released without charge. One was subsequently re-arrested and has been bailed.

I know that there are many questions that the public rightly demand answers to, as do members of this House, and those answers will come. But for now, the investigation is ongoing, and we must allow that work to take its course. We do know that voices in the Jewish community had long been warning that this day would come, and that Jews who had long felt safe in this country, in their country, now no longer do. Now this awful day has come to pass.

We must learn from it so that we do everything within our power to ensure it does not happen again. Our immediate priority was to enhance security. Visible officer patrols have been stepped up at synagogues and other sites in Manchester and across the country. Additional support has been made available to more than 500 locations, and while there have been long standing security arrangements in place with £18 million of funding each year for the Community Security Trust, it is clear that more must be done.

We will provide our Jewish community with the protection they deserve, because no one should be forced to live a smaller Jewish life

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in their country because of the events of October the 2nd. Thank. Mr Speaker, our posture at

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Mr Speaker, our posture at religious sites is one of maximum vigilance that applies to the Jewish vigilance that applies to the Jewish community, and it also applies to British Muslims. I know members across the House will have been disturbed by a suspected arson disturbed by a suspected arson attack that took place at a mosque in Peacehaven in East Sussex last in Peacehaven in East Sussex last week. The policing minister visited the mosque and met those forced to flee for their lives in terrifying circumstances.

And we have discussed circumstances. And we have discussed this with my honourable friend the member for Brighton, Camptown and Peacehaven, who I know also visited Peacehaven, who I know also visited the mosque on Friday. Let me be clear. Violence directed at any clear. Violence directed at any community, be they Jewish or Muslim, of all faiths or none, are attacks of all faiths or none, are attacks on our entire country here. I know this country is united in our this country is united in our condemnation of those who seek to divide us, because one of the greatest achievements of this greatest achievements of this country has been our tolerance, our ability to accept and embrace ability to accept and embrace difference.

Our generosity towards those who may not look the same, but are encompassed comfortably within a single national identity. It was for that reason that I was so affronted by the protest that took place in the days after the attack. These were a clear source of fear to the Jewish community, grieving just days after an unspeakable tragedy. The same was true on the anniversary of the October 7th attacks. I described those protests as un-british, and I stand by that because those protesters showed none of the generosity of spirit that I love about this country, and they most certainly did their cause no good whatsoever.

The right to protest is a fundamental freedom, but it must be balanced against the right. The public has to their safety and their security. In my conversations with community leaders and the police in recent days, it is clear that balance has not been struck. For that reason, I can confirm to the House today that we will amend sections 12 and 14 of the Public Order Act, 1986. The police will be able to take account of the cumulative impact of frequent protests when considering whether to impose conditions.

This will mean that protests that follow the same routes time and again can be forced to change their route, or the time of a protest. I am also reviewing all existing legislation to ensure our public order powers are fit for purpose and are being consistently applied. The right to protest must and will be protected, but of all the freedoms we enjoy, none is more precious than the right to live in safety. Mr Speaker, the government's first responsibility is to keep the public safe.

Since 2017, the Security Service and the police have disrupted more than 40 plots. This work has saved countless lives through our counter-terrorism strategy contest. We continue to tackle threats to this country, including those posed by Islamist terrorism, which remains our primary domestic threat. And through programmes like prevent, we seek to stop the slide into extremism that is drawing in far too many young people today. Once the investigation into this attack is complete, we will know much more about how it took place.

But the reality is we now face a domestic terrorist threat in this country that is more complex, less predictable, and harder to detect than ever before. That threat will never be defeated unless we address the hate that fuels it. That means acting on the rising tide of antisemitism in this country. Mr Speaker, I am horrified when I hear our Jewish community talking about their fear in a country that once offered a rare island of sanctuary in an all too often hostile world.

We have, in the days since the attack, stepped up our efforts to tackle anti-Semitism wherever it is found, challenging misinformation and hatred in schools, calling on Vice-Chancellors to do more to protect Jewish students at universities, and calling on local authorities to use their powers to protect the community. As well as reviewing the clearly inadequate regulations that protect Jewish staff and patients in the National Health Service. While these are important steps, more must be done. Antisemitism is the oldest

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hatred. We must now redouble our efforts to fight it once more. Yes.

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Yes. Mr Speaker, terrorists seek one thing to divide us. They hate a thing to divide us. They hate a society like ours, where different communities live together in communities live together in harmony, united by a common identity that transcends the colour of our skin or the nature of our faith. This attack has raised questions that must be answered about the security that we provide to our Jewish community, about how we address a rising tide of address a rising tide of anti-Semitism, about how we bring communities together rather than allowing some individuals to allowing some individuals to separate off into dark corners, including how we tackle the continuing threat of Islamist extremism and those who are pulled towards its warped ideology.

But at towards its warped ideology. But at the same time, we must not let this attack defeat us, nor forget who we attack defeat us, nor forget who we really are, because the real face of this country was not that of the this country was not that of the vile monster who conducted this attack. It was those who stood up to him and saved their fellow him and saved their fellow worshippers. And the emergency services who sprinted towards danger to bring the attack to an end.

And the real face of this country wasn't those who took to the streets and protested the very next day, but rather those who were horrified by the attack, stood with their Jewish neighbours and chose the path of solidarity over division. The anti-Semitic terrorist attack of October the 2nd was a horrifying act. In response to it, Mr Speaker. I hope the whole House can be united in a simple message to those who seek to divide us by pitting one against another.

They will fail. No act of terror will ever defeat us. Mr Speaker, I commend this statement to the House.
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Chris Philp Portrait Rt Hon Chris Philp MP (Croydon South, Conservative)
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Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp.

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thank the. Home Secretary. For advance sight. Of her statement. At 931 on the

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Of her statement. At 931 on the morning of Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar. We saw the sickening terrorist attack on worshippers at Heaton Park Synagogue in Manchester by an Islamist extremist. The brutal attack left two men dead, Melvin Kravitz and Adrian Dalby, three more injured. Our thoughts and prayers remain with Our thoughts and prayers remain with the victims and their families, whose lives were so wickedly torn whose lives were so wickedly torn apart on that holy morning.

I want to thank Greater Manchester Police and others in the security and and others in the security and emergency services for responding so quickly. And to the brave worshippers inside the synagogue who worshippers inside the synagogue who stopped the attacker from entering. I joined with the Home Secretary in saying that I hope the iOPC saying that I hope the iOPC completes their work quickly, and that the iOPC conclusions will reflect the fact that police reflect the fact that police officers acted with courage in what was a very dangerous, unpredictable was a very dangerous, unpredictable and fast moving situation.

Sadly, we know that anti-Semitism is at record know that anti-Semitism is at record highs in the UK. The Community Security Trust recorded over 1500 anti-Semitic incidents across the UK in the first half of this year, the second highest level ever. And Jewish people in our country tragically face far higher rates of hate crime than any other community. So we must stand with this country's Jewish community and fight with all our resolve and all our energy. The ancient evil of antisemitism, wherever it is found.

It has no place on these shores, not ever. And let's be clear. Attacks based on race, race or religion are totally unacceptable. The recent attack on a mosque in Peacehaven was appalling, and I know all of us will unreservedly condemn it. So everyone in this country, in all communities, including the Muslim community, must have the courage to stand up to extremism wherever we see it. Because standing by and saying nothing when encountering extremism is complicity. And that is why the antisemitism that is rife on university campuses must also be fought.

The Home Secretary mentioned that in her statement, but will she work with her colleagues in government to withdraw funding from universities that do not do enough to fight anti-Semitism? And we must do more than just call out extremism. Anyone espousing extremist views or who expresses support for terrorism, or racial or religious hatred of any kind, including anti-Semitism, who is not a British citizen, should be removed from this country. So will the Home Secretary commit today to using her powers under the 1971 Immigration Act to remove from this country any foreign national who expresses extremist views or sympathy for political violence or terrorism or anti-Semitism, or any other form of religious hatred, whether or not the criminal threshold is met.

She could make that commitment now. And will she show she is serious about fighting extremism by doing so? I agree with the Home Secretary that the protests on the 7th of October this year, the anniversary of the terrorist murders by Hamas, and just days after the Manchester murders, were appalling. Un-british, in her words, which I agree with. These protests have continued even after the recent peace agreement relating to Gaza was signed. And of course, they started before Israel's military action in Gaza.

So, in principle, I support her proposed introduction of a new cumulative impact test to section 12 and 14 of the Public Order Act 1986. But will the Home Secretary also consider expanding that test to also account for intimidation felt by other communities as a result of protest? Does the Home Secretary also agree that anyone expressing support for a proscribed terrorist organisation, or who incites violence, for example, by calling for jihad or intifada, should be arrested and prosecuted? Since the attack, the police confirmed the attacker pledged allegiance to the Islamic State and was influenced by extreme Islamist ideology.

As the Home Secretary acknowledged, Islamist extremism is sadly a threat we know all too well in the United Kingdom. In July, we remembered the 52 people murdered by Islamist terrorists in the seven seven bombings, which took place 20 years ago, the deadliest terrorist attack committed on British soil. We also remember Sir David Amos, also murdered by an Islamist extremist, and the 22 victims of the Manchester Arena attack, also murdered by an Islamist extremist. We should not be afraid to call out this extremist ideology wherever we see it.

It has no place in this country. So will the Home Secretary pledge to drop any definition of Islamophobia, which makes calling out Islamist extremism any harder? The fact is, 75% of MI5's terrorism related caseload is Islamist extremism related, and the vast majority of terrorist murders in the last 25 years were perpetrated by Islamists. Yet only 13%, one, three, 13% of the prevent caseload is Islamist related. So what does the Home Secretary propose to do about that? Britain gave perpetrator Jihad Al Shami a home when he arrived here from Syria.

He then carried out a brutal attack on a synagogue deliberately targeted at Jewish people on the holiest day of the Jewish calendar. We need to reflect very deeply on the implications of that. So today, Mr Speaker, we must all stand together and fight the hatred of extremism and terror. Attacks like this are an attack on our whole nation. We'll never change our way of life, and we will never allow our fellow citizens to be threatened or attacked simply because of their background.

And I know the whole House will want to send out that message today.
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Shabana Mahmood Portrait Rt Hon Shabana Mahmood KC MP, The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Birmingham Ladywood, Labour)
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The Home Secretary.

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Thank you, Mr Speaker, and can I thank the shadow Home Secretary for thank the shadow Home Secretary for his response and the way in which he has made it, and I look forward to working with him and all members working with him and all members across the House as we deal with this. What I hope will always be a shared issue and a shared problem. And where there are where there is agreement and consensus in this House about the measures that we should take.

I hope that we can should take. I hope that we can progress those matters quickly. He asked specifically in relation to universities. He will have seen, I universities. He will have seen, I hope, the comments from my colleague, my friend in the Department for Education Secretary Department for Education Secretary of State, who has made clear to universities what their responsibilities are. I think it's important that she does that important that she does that engagement before considering what the measures will be if they fail to take all steps to protect Jewish take all steps to protect Jewish students on campus.

But this government is very clear. The universities already have responsibilities, and they need to responsibilities, and they need to demonstrate that they are reflecting those responsibilities and taking those responsibilities and taking appropriate action. He asked a range of questions on other crimes that of questions on other crimes that are being committed. He will, I hope, recognise that this government has worked very closely with has worked very closely with policing, despite lots of disquiet in some quarters in making sure that we have absolutely no tail off in our response to those who support a proscribed terror organisation, he will see that there have been many hundreds of arrests and as long as people continue to show support for a proscribed organisation, they will face the full force of the law every time they do so.

On immigration powers, let me say I'm considering all immigration issues. He will know that for foreign offenders who have both committed a crime and being found guilty in this country, this government has increased deportations of foreign offenders quite significantly. The than the situation that we inherited. I note his points on the wider powers of the 1971 Immigration Act, which I am reviewing, and I will say more to the House, Mr Speaker, in in due course, he also made a number of points in relation to proposed amendments for section 12 and 14 of the Public Order Act.

I hope that when we bring those measures forward, they will receive support in this House, and I am happy to write to him about any of the further details on the Public Order Act, but I am going to review the wider landscape of public order legislation, particularly in relation to cumulative impact of repeat protests. So we are already going to take steps on imposing further conditions and making explicit the cumulative impact is explicitly something that the police should take into account.

But I am going to look at the wider framework. And again, Mr Speaker, I will return to the House in due course with further updates on the legislation. He rightly noted that the protests have continued, Mr Speaker, both before the peace agreement and after the peace agreement in the Middle East, I think we can conclude that not all of those protesting truly wish to see peace in the Middle East, but that is for them to answer to what their motivations really are.

We are very clear that whilst the right to protest is a fundamental freedom in our country, enjoyed by people of all backgrounds and often the cause of grave offence to other people who live within this country, it does have to be balanced against the right for all people to be able to live in safety. He mentioned Islamist extremism in particular. Mr Speaker, let me be clear to him and to this House that this government and I myself as the Home Secretary, have a very clear eyed view of where the threats that face this country are coming from.

It is true that within our domestic extremism landscape, the largest cohort of work that keeps our security services and counter-terror policing busy is related to Islamist extremism. We will not shy away from confronting those issues and dealing with them in the appropriate way. And I guess what has happened in Manchester on the 2nd of October asks a bigger question of all of us. This threat is something that we have been living for with for some time, and we have not yet defeated it.

And I commit myself and the government to doing everything in our power to stand up to this particular threat without fear or favour, to destroy it for good. And I would note for this House that the first people that Islamists often suppress, hurt and damage are their fellow Muslims as well. It is in everyone's interests to fight Islamist extremism wherever it is found. There is a wider, more complex domestic extremism picture, as well as the shadow Secretary of State noted, in relation to the extreme right wing terrorism and an emerging threat of those who do not have a particularly fixed ideology but are fixated on violence.

And it is important that all of our response is measured, follows where the risks are coming from. And we are always asking ourselves what action will be ultimately effective in dealing with those threats. And again, we will redouble our efforts to interrogate the assumptions that have been made in the past, whether they need to be changed and what new, effective action must be pursued. And I hope in that task, we will have support from those across this House. Thank you, Mr Speaker.
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Graham Stringer Portrait Graham Stringer MP (Blackley and Middleton South, Labour)
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Graham Stringer.

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Can I thank the Home Secretary for her statement? And I'm sure on for her statement? And I'm sure on behalf of the people of Crumpsall where this atrocity took place, they where this atrocity took place, they would welcome that statement. The only minor was a minor. The only only minor was a minor. The only thing I would add is that while these acts of anti-Semitism and these acts of anti-Semitism and violence are un-british, I think they're inhuman. And that is a they're inhuman.

And that is a better way to describe them than them being un-british. I'd also like them being un-british. I'd also like to thank the Home Secretary and the Prime Minister to for coming to Manchester on the day of this Manchester on the day of this attack. Again, it was much appreciated. And the Home Secretary appreciated. And the Home Secretary had a chance to meet the heroes on this day, because while there was violence and tragedy, there were certainly heroes, not least from the members of the congregation, two of members of the congregation, two of whom lost their life, who protected other members of the congregation from what would undoubtedly have been more deaths.

She also met the been more deaths. She also met the CSG, the police, the fire brigade, who all played an excellent role in getting to the site of this violence as quickly as they could. I have lived in this community next, within a stone's throw of that synagogue. Well, most of my adult life, and I have no doubt the community will remain resilient. It's always been resilient. And the film crews who thronged about the area after this violence were amazed that Muslims, Jews, Sikhs, people, Christians, people of non religion were consoling each other.

There was no hostility at home on the on the street. The final points I want to make are not as heartwarming as as that. There is hope and anger within the local Jewish community. They've known an attack like this was coming for some time. Obviously they didn't know when or where, but it is arrived and they feel that there has developed a hierarchy of racism that somehow Jew hatred is not as important as other kinds of racism.

They feel that there has not been enough done to protect them. The extra security that the Prime Minister and Home Secretary announced is welcome. But what they're looking for is extra action to deal with religious extremists who are involved in illegal activity. So get to the heart of some of the violent activities against the violence against the Jewish community. And the final point I make in one sense, although it's not been done, activities against sorry, taking action against illegal activities is the easier part of it.

But partly because of what's happened in Gaza, many people in the country, we've probably all heard it and witnessed it have thought it's now OK. In a casual dinner party conversation to make anti-Semitic comments. It's not. It's not OK, although it's not against the law for artists. If I could use that word for people like Bob Dylan to be operating and spreading the hate on campuses like Manchester University. So finally, can I ask the Home Secretary, will she look forward to a future with me? Not only that is free of anti-Semitism, but where I don't have to walk past and drive past Jewish schools with security guards outside.
16:11
Shabana Mahmood Portrait Rt Hon Shabana Mahmood KC MP, The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Birmingham Ladywood, Labour)
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That country? is an assiduous member, constituency Member of Parliament, and I saw for myself firsthand his deep links in the community that he represents in this House, and that he has been a source of real strength in bringing people together in that part of Manchester. Let me say to him, one of the things that as a member of an ethnic and faith minority myself, that I most hate about our political discourse and our national conversation, is this hierarchy of racism.

I hate the way that minority communities feel like we're pitted against one another in a fight for attention, and in a fight for recognition of the difficulties that we as individual groups might face. I think that racism in all of its forms is abhorrent, and I will be as assiduous in fighting the scourge of anti-Semitism in this country as people might expect me as a muslim to be in fighting Islamophobia in this country as well. We are all safe when we are all safe, and I will not stand by and watch our communities forced to compete with one another, forced to explain again and again why they are suffering and why they do not feel safe.

That is unacceptable to me in 21st century Britain. I will not stand for it and it will not be the policy position of this government. Let me also say that that what happened on the 2nd of October, the person who bears the responsibility for what happened was the terrorist attacker himself. I will not name him again today, Mr Speaker, but there is no doubt that events in the Middle East have caused tensions here at home, and some have sought to exploit those tensions.

And I think it is incredibly important that we are very clear eyed in holding the line between what could be legitimate critique of the Israeli government and the actions of the war in the Middle East and against antisemitism. You can be a critic of policy in the Middle East without becoming anti-Semitic and hating Jews and holding Jews in this country to account for things that are nothing to do with them in a country elsewhere. And it is incumbent on all of this to hold that line and to be clear where that line is, so that we speak with one voice and give confidence to our minority communities here at home.

One of the most one of the most devastating things that I heard when I was in Manchester on the day and in the aftermath of the attack, Mr Speaker, was. Our Jewish community expressing how they now won't feel unsafe in their own country, but also that they might never see a time when their children don't have to have security when they go to schools. So whilst it is important that in the immediate aftermath of this attack, we do consider security matters, we do consider an enhancement of police presence and enhancing and deepening our work with the Community Security Trust.

I will not stop until it becomes the case that you can go to a Jewish synagogue and a school in this country without having to go through a security cordon before you do so.
16:14
Max Wilkinson Portrait Max Wilkinson MP (Cheltenham, Liberal Democrat)
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Liberal Democrat spokesperson Max

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Wilkinson. Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and. I thank the Home Secretary for advance sight of the statement. This advance sight of the statement. This is my first duty as the Home Affairs spokesperson for my party, and I only wish it was not in response to only wish it was not in response to such a tragedy. Our thoughts my party's thoughts are with the families of Adrian Dalby and Melvin families of Adrian Dalby and Melvin Kravitz, who were tragically killed. Our thoughts are with those injured, the congregation and the wider Jewish community, which has been the target of vicious attack on its target of vicious attack on its holiest day, Yom Kippur.

This attack, we must all be clear, did not happen in a vacuum. not happen in a vacuum. Anti-Semitism is widespread on Britain's streets, and British Jews have been living in fear, have been living in fear, particularly since Hamas's horrific terror attacks of October the 7th. The Liberal Democrats are committed The Liberal Democrats are committed to ensuring that our Jewish friends and neighbours feel safe walking the streets and worshipping in their streets and worshipping in their synagogues. Those who spread anti-Semitic hatred or incite violence against Jews, whether violence against Jews, whether online, at marches or elsewhere, must be stopped.

That is never acceptable. I want to thank the Community Security Trust, as the Community Security Trust, as the shadow Home Secretary did for their work. They do an incredible job working with the police to protect Jewish community across our country. I also want to praise its collaboration with organisations like Tell Mama, sharing best practices so that both the Jewish communities and the Muslim communities can be better protected. I look forward to visiting the CCP's headquarters in the near future, as one of my first duties in this role.

We cannot ignore, when we discuss this, the issue of protests. The right to peaceful protest is a cornerstone of our democracy, and it is a right the Liberal Democrats will always protect. But the Liberal Democrats are also acutely aware of the fear felt by the Jewish community and the harassment they have felt at some of these marches. We have too often seen these marches by people spreading anti-Semitism and inciting violence against Jews. As we saw even the night of this appalling attack, my party is unequivocal in its view.

Those who incite anti-Semitism and who carry it out must be met with the full force of the law. Now, I say this advisedly, Mr Speaker. Unfortunately, the government's decisions recently have led to police arresting pensioners for holding up cardboard signs when they should be protecting all communities, including including the Jewish community, from those who would cause harm. This undermines the right to protest and, crucially, means that the police are using their time and resources on other things when they should be protecting people.

The British Jewish community should not have to suffer violence or live in fear simply because of their identity. And we need less thoughts and prayers and more action. So will the Secretary of State, the Home Secretary, confirm what additional physical security the Home Office has provided for the Jewish community since the attack? In addition, we must also tackle the underlying root of modern day anti-Semitism in this country. If the conversations we have make us feel squeamish and lead us to ask questions that promote discomforting answers.

As those questions that I've asked recently have, that is all the more reason to have them and to have them more often. So will the Home Secretary with the Prime Minister convene a summit of interfaith leaders, communal bodies, education heads and the security services to really get a grip of this ever growing crisis of anti-Semitism, anti-Semitism, terrorism and hatred can be defeated, but only if we stand united against them and stand for the values we as British people, hold so dear.
16:18
Shabana Mahmood Portrait Rt Hon Shabana Mahmood KC MP, The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Birmingham Ladywood, Labour)
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Home Secretary. thank the spokesman for the Liberal Democrats for his response. And where we agree, I hope we will in future be able to work closely together, particularly on issues in relation to protests and in rebuilding interfaith at work in this country, which I think in the last two years, as everybody who's been involved in interfaith work, myself included, will acknowledge, there have been real, real challenges and difficulties there. But we have to think more creatively and redouble our efforts to rebuild relationships that have been deeply, deeply strained.

But I really must say, Mr Speaker, I cannot I cannot accept and leave unchallenged what he had to say about the protests, led primarily by the group defender juries in relation to the proscription of the group Palestine Action. I think the Liberal Democrats have to ask themselves some serious questions. Are they going to stand up for the rule of law in this country? You can, in this House, in this chamber and

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outside, anyone is free. say. That they should be changed, to suggest that the thresholds.

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suggest that the thresholds. Are in the wrong. Place, that they need updating. Fair and legitimate comment. We may disagree, but it is perfectly disagree, but it is perfectly legitimate to debate that in this House and outside as well. What is not acceptable and what is a crime not acceptable and what is a crime under the law of our land, is to support a proscribed organisation. support a proscribed organisation. And members of this House should not feel that they can do anything other than support the law of our land.

And so supporting a proscribed organisation doesn't matter if you organisation doesn't matter if you think it was the wrong thing to do, it is a lie. It is an offence under our terror laws and it will always our terror laws and it will always be met with the full force of the law. And I do say to the Liberal Democrats, they really have to decide if they're going to stand up for the rule of law in this country, and if they have things to say about our terror laws, they have suggestions they want to make, they have amendments, then do that in the normal way in this House, in the normal way in this House, in the legitimate way.

But do not break the rule of law in our country. Mr. Mr Speaker, I think, I think I think Speaker, I think, I think I think the honourable member is speaking from a sedentary position, suggesting that he thinks that policing the protests, where support policing the protests, where support for a proscribed organisation is shown, is somehow a waste of time.

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And I call it standing up for the rule of law in this area. Thank you, Mr Speaker.

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Thank you, Mr Speaker. House. Will share my joy at today's release of the hostages in the Middle East. But.
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Shabana Mahmood Portrait Rt Hon Shabana Mahmood KC MP, The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Birmingham Ladywood, Labour)
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Secretary. her question. She's absolutely right. The answer can't just be more funding for more security. As I said in response to an earlier, earlier question, I don't want it to be forever the case that in order for Jewish children to go to their local Jewish school, they always have to walk through a security cordon in order to do so. I think it is right that in this in this initial response to the attack, we are focussed on security, because I think it's important we give confidence to the community.

Having seen such a horrific terror attack take place. But the future has to be has to look different from the present and also from the past. It's why the government is going to step up our action on tackling anti-Semitism. Working closely with the independent adviser Lord Mann, and we've set up an anti-Semitism working group, which will make wider societal recommendations, I think in due in due course. It's why the Secretary of State for education has written to universities in particular, to remind them of their responsibilities to students.

So there is already action taking place based on our current arrangements. But I think there is a question for us to ask about the wider picture and how we really deal with this scourge of anti-Semitism has gone on for far too long. It is rising and we do, as a society, need to think more carefully and more deeply about how we tackle that hatred and how we together.
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Shabana Mahmood Portrait Rt Hon Shabana Mahmood KC MP, The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Birmingham Ladywood, Labour)
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Secretary. Thank him for his question, but I

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Thank him for his question, but I think everyone across this House can unite around and agree that it's very important that everybody who very important that everybody who comes to this country makes it their home, chooses to raise their family here, you know, commits themselves to being the best of British. That is certainly my own experience as somebody whose parents came to this country in the late 60s and then in the 70s, I think that actually the vast majority of our minority communities are very proud of being British.

Every survey I've ever seen of minority communities asking them to describe their Britishness actually often finds a huge pride in Britishness and also our Union Jack, our flag, our symbol of our nation. There are obviously some some issues that we have to confront, and there is a question here to be asked about this attacker who had all of the benefits. You know, he came here as a small child and was a naturalised British citizen whilst he was still a minor. He was under 18 when he became British and he committed these attacks in his mid 30s.

There is a question to ask about what went wrong in that period of his life, and those formative years that made him do such an act. I will ensure that those wider lessons are learned, and I will never shy away from honest conversations about either integration or community cohesion in our country. But I also don't want it to be the case that we allow the actions of a minority to make us believe that our majority are not proud of being British, because my own experience, and I think all of the data shows the exact opposite is true.
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Shabana Mahmood Portrait Rt Hon Shabana Mahmood KC MP, The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Birmingham Ladywood, Labour)
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freedoms that we have always enjoyed. Surely that cannot be the intention of this government. OK.

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OK. The intention of this government is to make sure that the right balance is struck between our balance is struck between our fundamental right to protest, and also making sure our communities can go about their business without living in fear of regular weekly protests on their on their own doorstep. What we are suggesting with the amendments to section 12 and 14 of the Public Order Act, is to make explicit that cumulative impact is something that the police can take into account when imposing conditions, that is, not a removal of the right to protest.

It's just saying that there are some conditions the protest can still carry on, but not in a way that prevents other communities from being able to go about their business with safety and with security. I am surprised and well, I'm not surprised because it's the Scottish National Party, but I would hope, I would hope that across this House we can understand that getting the balance right is delicate and it's difficult. And this is a measure which I think puts us back towards something that looks and feels much more like a balanced situation.

Protest. Go ahead with some conditions. I'd be surprised if that does not get backing from across this House. I hope it does.
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Shabana Mahmood Portrait Rt Hon Shabana Mahmood KC MP, The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Birmingham Ladywood, Labour)
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I thank my friend for that question. I think one of the things that I was was very, very clear when that I was was very, very clear when I visited soon after the attack was that the main findings from the arena attack was around the ability of the emergency services to respond in a timely way and therefore to save lives. And I can tell him that the emergency service response between the fire service and the police, the ambulance service and everybody else took on board the direct learnings of what happened in the aftermath of the arena attack.

And that is why I pay direct tribute to all of those emergency services, because from the first call coming in to the attacker being shot dead, it was seven minutes and the role was played not just by the armed police response, but by the ambulance service and also the fire service as well. Who happened actually on that day to be going to a different fire, but rerouted and dealt with the aftermath of this terror attack. So I really do pay tribute and those are direct learnings from what happened after the arena attack.

On the wider picture. We will know more once all of the facts are in, in terms of the preparation and the planning of this attack. And I will again, you know, inform him and others in the House if I think there are wider lessons to be drawn. But it is a little early in the investigation, I think, to say that at this stage.
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Bob Blackman Portrait Bob Blackman MP (Harrow East, Conservative)
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Thank you.

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In Heaton Park, I'm very proud to say that Belmont School in my constituency hosted at the service constituency hosted at the service following a meeting of the Harrow Interfaith Council, people of all

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religions, representatives of all Jewish. Community. Saying that hatred will not be

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Saying that hatred will not be allowed to win. However, the Friday before that Shabbat service, I was before that Shabbat service, I was horrified by the fact that just before Shabbat came in, I got frantic phone calls saying none of frantic phone calls saying none of the synagogues had actually had contact from the police as to what would happen the following day, would happen the following day, after some frantic phone calls, the police said, we can do drive bys, we can do various things, but we can't can do various things, but we can't have a permanent presence at this.

At the schools on Shabbat. And the At the schools on Shabbat. And the reason why? Because of the demonstration in central London by Palestine in action, where the Palestine in action, where the police knew they'd have to police these, these demonstrations and arrest the perpetrators, coolly

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arrest the perpetrators, coolly calling out for support for proscribed organisations. So I think.

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My constituents and those in London are fed up paying the money for these hate marches and hate for these hate marches and hate demonstrations to take place. So in addition to changing the routes and the meeting places in the times when these demonstrations can take place, how about another suggestion? If they want to organise these hate demonstrations, let them have the bill for the policing that they have to have.
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Shabana Mahmood Portrait Rt Hon Shabana Mahmood KC MP, The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Birmingham Ladywood, Labour)
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Well. Said. made by previous advisers to both our administration and the previous Conservative administration. I understand the call for those those that do the protest should pay. One of the difficulties is on implementation rather than a disagreement on the substance of that issue. It's one of the things that I'll be looking at in the wider review that that I am doing. It's important that whatever action we take doesn't create more work for policing, and it's why I've already had discussions with senior police officers across the country about what we should do going forward, and I can assure him I will review those measures very carefully, bearing in mind all the previous reports that have been written here.

And I will ensure that the framework we are left with is one that is robust and also capable of being policed properly by the police themselves, and has their confidence as well as that of the communities, because it's important. Whatever we do, we have the resources to meet that. On the specifics of what happened with

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synagogues in his constituency, if he doesn't mind writing to me, I response. Paul Waugh.

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Paul Waugh. Yes, thank you, Madam. Deputy Speaker, can I pass on my sincere condolences to the families.

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sincere condolences to the families. And friends of Melvin. Kravitz and Adrian Dalby, some of whom were in the. Gallery today, earlier. But it's.
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Stella Creasy Portrait Ms Stella Creasy MP (Walthamstow, Labour )
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Stella Creasy Thank you, Madam Speaker. May I join with colleagues in sharing my condolences to the families of.

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attack. Last week. Can I also put on record? And I

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Can I also put on record? And I think this whole House would agree. Our support for the Community Security Trust, not just for the work they do tirelessly every week at Shoom.

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at Shoom. But also for. The cross-community work that they do. So many in our country

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they do. So many in our country right now want to divide people, want to find. Points to. Bring people against each other

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Bring people against each other that came across. Community work is critical in keeping everybody from our community safe. On that thread. our community safe. On that thread. Then one of the common themes that is coming out, and I allude to the comments of my colleague from

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comments of my colleague from Warrington, is this concern about misogyny and the record of. Many of those involved in violent offences of.

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offences of. Violence against women? I know her predecessor was putting together a counter-terrorism strategy that was going.

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was going. To include this. In looking at anti-Semitism. And Islamophobia. As well, and radical Islam. Could

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As well, and radical Islam. Could she update us on that review and where things have got to, so that we can be confident we will get all. Of these people.
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Shabana Mahmood Portrait Rt Hon Shabana Mahmood KC MP, The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Birmingham Ladywood, Labour)
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want. To give herself. The power to stop them altogether? Yeah.

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But the measure that I've announced will be about placing conditions on marchers both under section 12 and 14 of the Public Order Act. What became very clear to me in the immediate aftermath of the terror attack in Manchester was there was inconsistency of practice across policing forces in the country as to whether the cumulative impact could, in fact be taken into account when they are making their decisions as to whether to place conditions on a march or a protest or not.

The legislation I propose will make explicit that cumulative impact is, in and of itself, a feature that policing can take into account in order to put conditions on a march that it doesn't need to meet any other threshold before conditions could be placed on a march or a protest. On the wider question, that is why I am reviewing the broader legislative framework. I will have more to say about potential bans. Although he will know from his own time at the Home Office, there are consequences to policing and banning of protests, as well as there are of allowing them to go ahead and having conditions.

And again, it's one of those areas where I think a careful balance needs to be struck. I hope there might be cross-party agreement on how we get that careful balance and how we hold it, and ensure that the police are able to police effectively wherever we may decide in the future.
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Tom Morrison Portrait Tom Morrison MP (Cheadle, Liberal Democrat)
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Tom Morrison.

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And can. I join the Home Secretary. In paying. Tribute to. CST and Greater Manchester Emergency Services for their Emergency Services for their response on the day, and particularly to those brave members of the congregation who ran and protected. Their fellow members. And

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protected. Their fellow members. And can I also thank the Home Secretary for her. Quick response and come into. Greater Manchester? As a Greater Manchester.

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As a Greater Manchester. MP myself, I know it meant a great deal to our community. I'm

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great deal to our community. I'm Congregation. In. My. Constituency. As well as North. Cheshire Jewish Primary School. And. I met.

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I met. With the rabbi. The Monday. Before this. Horrendous attack, and we talked about the genuine fear in our

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about the genuine fear in our community, about the rise in. Anti-Semitism, which was a horrendous. happen.

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happen. At Heaton Park. I completely. Agree with the Home Secretary's should. Not.

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Not. Be the answer. But we are in this situation where more security currently is needed. So can I ask currently is needed. So can I ask her to assure the House that and the Jewish community that greater resources will be given to CST, the

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resources will be given to CST, the police and local authorities to ensure greater visible protection around our. Synagogues and our local.

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Synagogues and our local. Jewish schools, not just in the immediate term, but as long as necessary to reassure the community. That they are safe. Yeah.
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Shabana Mahmood Portrait Rt Hon Shabana Mahmood KC MP, The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Birmingham Ladywood, Labour)
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terrorists. All of these things contribute to the feeling that I was getting from the Jewish community, which is that they do not feel safe in this country.

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They well, look, one of the things that has happened after this things that has happened after this attack is it has shone a light on the burden that British Jews bear every single day, just in order to live an ordinary Jewish life. And there is nothing worse than there is nothing worse than imagining little children in our country having to go through drills every day at school in order to keep every day at school in order to keep themselves safe.

And I would hope that everyone across this House can commit ourselves collectively to commit ourselves collectively to doing everything that we can to root out the evil of anti-Semitism, because no child should have to do because no child should have to do what it has become ordinary and normal for British Jewish children in our country. That is a disgrace in our country. That is a disgrace for us all. It shames us all, and it is something that we absolutely need to work together in order to fix.

Let me say, on interfaith work, he Let me say, on interfaith work, he is right. In the last two years, many times people who have done interfaith work for 20 or 30 years interfaith work for 20 or 30 years have told me it has fallen off a cliff. There are no easy answers for how you get it up and running again. how you get it up and running again. I think it will take careful, delicate work to bring people together again, to rebuild some trust between communities, between our Muslim and our Jewish communities.

Let me be frank about that. I think with enough goodwill and a sort of British generosity of spirit, it is possible for us to get that work up and running. I do see it as crucial in tackling the scourge of anti-Semitism, other forms of hatred, and in making sure that our country is a safe place for people of all different communities. And I hope that is something the whole House will support you.
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