UK (Parliament Politics Magazine) – British Prime Minister Keir Starmer orders an NHS antisemitism review after “clear cases” were ignored, pledging action and £10m for Jewish community security.
As reported by The Guardian, Sir Keir Starmer announced a review into antisemitism in the NHS, citing many “clear cases” that remain unaddressed.
The Prime Minister announced that Lord John Mann, the government’s independent antisemitism adviser, will oversee the NHS review as part of efforts to tackle antisemitism in Britain.
Keir Starmer’s NHS antisemitism and Jewish security?
Sir Keir Starmer paid a visit to the Community Security Trust. The organization protects Jewish communities and monitors antisemitism.
The prime minister pledged £10m to improve security for synagogues, schools, and other Jewish communities.
He stated,
“We have heard loud and clear in the last few days and weeks that words are not enough, action is what matters.”
Mr Starmer revealed at the CST that Lord Mann will lead the review, saying,
“Lord Mann is going to do a review of the NHS for us. There are just too many clear examples of antisemitism that have not been dealt with adequately or effectively.”
The Labour leader said,
“So we need to do that review. We’ve already put in place management training in relation to the NHS, but I think we need a wider review, because in some cases, clear cases are simply not being dealt with, and so we need to get to the root of that.”
The Prime Minister said universities had acted “too slowly” on antisemitism, singling out Oxford, where a student was suspended after being arrested for inciting racial hatred.
During a London protest, the student allegedly chanted for Gaza to “put the Zios in the ground.” Referring to this, Mr Starmer said,
“Look at Oxford this week. That was a slow reaction to the clearest of cases.”
The Prime Minister’s visit comes after the 2 October terrorist attack at Heaton Park synagogue in Manchester, which killed two men.
The Home Office report last week indicated that antisemitic hate crime remains near record levels.
Mr Starmer added,
“The figures are all going in the wrong direction. And it’s not just the figures, it’s the feeling of insecurity and the fear that it instils in our community.”
A review by Lord Mann and Penny Mordaunt published in July warned of rising antisemitism in the UK, highlighting a “specific unaddressed issue” in the NHS.
What did Shabana Mahmood and Mark Gardner say about protecting Jewish schools?
Shabana Mahmood, Home Secretary, who joined the Prime Minister at the CST, said protest laws are under review and additional police protection will be provided for synagogues and other locations.
She added that the “bigger question” is improving community cohesion, allowing Jewish children to “go to school without learning what a lockdown is.”
Mark Gardner, head of the CST, called the meeting “very straightforward and very productive,” adding, “We don’t want to live behind high walls for the rest of our lives.”
Antisemitic cases in the UK
1,521 antisemitic cases were reported in the first half of 2025, a 25% fall from 2019, but it is still the second-highest number on record.
There were 326 antisemitic incidents in June, the highest in a single month. This included 76 violent attacks, three of them very serious. About 38% happened online, and 81% involved abusive behavior.