Tackling Antisemitism: National Security Adviser
(1 day, 10 hours ago)
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Lord Polak
To ask His Majesty’s Government, in the light of growing antisemitism and recent violence against British Jews, what assessment they have made of the role of the National Security Adviser in tackling antisemitism in the UK to protect Jewish communities.
The Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office, and Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (Baroness Twycross) (Lab)
I start by commending the noble Lord for his work in tackling the scourge of antisemitism. The role of the National Security Adviser is to co-ordinate security and intelligence issues of strategic importance across government and support the National Security Council. Combating antisemitism is a whole of government and a whole of society effort. This includes ensuring that national security capabilities are deployed effectively to protect Jewish communities, individuals and sites, but it cannot just be about security. That is why this Government are taking steps across education, health, culture and in the online space to go further to ensure that Jews in Britain are able to go about their day-to-day lives without fear.
Lord Polak (Con)
My Lords, the vast majority of British Jews identify as Zionists, so when Zionists are the target, most of the British Jewish community are the target. When there are anti-Israel leaflets outside Jewish schools and “Boycott Israeli Goods” stickers on ambulances in Golders Green, weeks after others were set alight, this is not protest; it is the singling out and intimidation of British Jews. Only yesterday, a woman pushing a baby in a pram in Stamford Hill was punched in the face. What is needed is not more and more money or higher and higher walls. I urge His Majesty’s Government and the National Security Adviser to take a good look at their policies in the Department for Business, Science, Innovation and Trade and, specifically, in the FCDO and examine how they are adding to the problem.
Baroness Twycross (Lab)
There is no place for antisemitism in this country, and this Government will do everything we can to tackle it. I would add to what I said previously only by saying that British Jews should not be held to account for actions by the Israeli Government. We will do whatever we can, and I know that Jonathan Powell will do whatever he can, to tackle antisemitism in this country.
Lord Grocott (Lab)
My Lords, in agreeing strongly with my noble friend’s response to this Question on antisemitism, for the record can I get it clear, because there is a lot of loose language around this, that to support strongly the establishment of a Palestinian state is not antisemitic, to criticise the current Government in Israel is not antisemitic and to condemn as loathsome the views of one or two members of the current Israeli Government towards Palestinians is not antisemitic either?
Baroness Twycross (Lab)
That is also true, and I agree with my noble friend on that point.
Lord Pannick (CB)
My Lords, may I express agreement with what the noble Lord, Lord Grocott, said? Does the Minister agree that combating antisemitism is the responsibility of not just the Government but all responsible political parties? Does she also agree that we should celebrate the extraordinary contribution of the Jewish community to this country in science, the arts, business and the law—although, on sport, perhaps not so much? The Jewish community should not be defined by antisemitism.
Baroness Twycross (Lab)
I absolutely agree with the noble Lord on that point; he expressed it better than I could.
Lord in Waiting/Government Whip (Lord Katz) (Lab)
My Lords, we have plenty of time. It is the turn of the Liberal Democrat Benches.
Lord Palmer of Childs Hill (LD)
My Lords, I believe that the previous speaker made the big mistake—I hope that the Minister will comment on this—of conflating what is happening in Israel and the Palestinian territories, with what is happening in the UK. In the UK, we are plagued by increasing antisemitism. Can the Minister assure the House that the National Security Adviser is not overinfluenced by the comments that his wife has made in national newspapers this week?
Baroness Twycross (Lab)
The views to which the noble Lord alludes are held by an individual who does not represent this Government in any capacity. As the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government said earlier today, the person concerned is the wife of the National Security Adviser, not the National Security Adviser. In political discourse, it is important to maintain a distinction between government employees and their families.
Lord Callanan (Con)
My Lords, the Campaign Against Antisemitism has expressed serious concerns about the public comments of Sarah Helm, the wife of the National Security Adviser, to whom the Minister just referred. The Government have said, quite rightly, that Sarah Helm does not represent them. However, in a post during a public exchange on X last night, in response to the question of whether her husband was involved in the decision to proscribe Palestine Action, Sarah Helm denied it and said, “Nope”. Can the Minister tell the House how Ms Helm knew whether her husband was involved? None of us knows who in government was involved in that decision. How does she know who was involved?
Baroness Twycross (Lab)
It was the Government’s decision, and the Government’s position on Palestine Action is clear. The Court of Appeal found that Palestine Action carried out acts of terrorism, celebrated those who took part in them and promoted the use of violence. The proscription of Palestine Action does not affect lawful protest. The Government’s position on Palestine Action is clear, Parliament has decided that it should be proscribed and we continue to hold that view.
Lord Austin of Dudley (Non-Afl)
My Lords, it is of course possible to criticise Israel, its Government and its policies without being antisemitic. However, if Israel is held up to standards that are not applied to other countries and is singled out for criticism that is not made of other countries, and if the only country against which you campaign happens to be the only Jewish one, please do not tell me that you are not an antisemite. I have to say this as well: Parliament’s obsessive focus on Israel, with the constant and false allegations made against Israel and its conduct, is driving antisemitism in the UK. Every party in Parliament needs to consider this very carefully.
Baroness Twycross (Lab)
This Government remain supportive of a two-state solution and maintain the right of Israel to exist. One can hold two views, I think: we can have legitimate criticism of the Israeli Government alongside supporting the country’s right to exist.
Lord Katz (Lab)
My Lords, we still have time for questions from more than one Bench. We will go to the Labour Benches first.
Lord Mann (Lab)
My Lords, following my letter to the new Prime Minister outlining some serious issues with the security and well-being of the Jewish community, I was delighted to hear that last week, for the first time in our history, the National Security Council was convened specifically to discuss the Government’s response to, and actions on, antisemitism. Does the Minister agree that, going forward, a cross-government response to antisemitism is crucial—not one that hides in individual departments but one where the whole of government, using the principles that the National Security Council will have met on, take forward a whole of government response?
Baroness Twycross (Lab)
We have to have a whole of government response, as otherwise we cannot tackle this. I thank my noble friend for his work and his review into antisemitism and racism in the NHS and the healthcare system. We are expecting the findings of Sir David Bell’s independent review into antisemitism in schools and colleges shortly. Unless we look at and tackle antisemitism wherever it is found and wherever it manifests its ugly head, we will not tackle it effectively. This will definitely require an all-government, whole of government approach.
Baroness Ludford (LD)
My Lords, I would normally resist making spouses responsible for each other’s pronouncements, but this situation is worrying for a highly sensitive position. If vetting for the post of National Security Adviser encompasses the family and household, were Sarah Helm’s posts ignored or were they accepted as okay?
Baroness Twycross (Lab)
As I stated previously, the views are held by an individual who does not represent the Government in any capacity. I can only repeat that again to the noble Baroness.
Lord Grade of Yarmouth (Con)
My Lords, while there is still time, would the Minister welcome an intervention at this point from representatives of the Green Party?
Baroness Twycross (Lab)
That is a matter for the noble Baroness, Lady Jones. It is not up to me to say who should ask me questions.
Lord Bird (CB)
My Lords, can I ask a very simple question? It is 82 years since they first opened the camps that showed the abysmal way in which 6 million Jewish people were treated, yet 82 years later we are having a rise in antisemitism. Can we not have an analysis of why this is happening? All I find is people saying, “Yes, it’s going up”. Where is it coming from? Why is it that I talk to hundreds of young people who say, “I am not an antisemite. I am an anti-imperialist”. Where is this coming from?
Baroness Twycross (Lab)
I respect the noble Lord’s views. This Government will look at where the antisemitism is coming from and how best we can tackle it. I would say that we can best tackle it with a cross-government approach, but we also definitely need a cross-party approach to tackling the scourge of antisemitism.
The Lord Bishop of Norwich
My Lords, like many on these Benches, I am deeply concerned by the rise of antisemitism, hate crime and violence in this country. Following the publication of MI5’s recent domestic threat update, it was deeply concerning to hear that the security services have dealt with so many individuals seeking to carry out attacks against synagogues, mosques and other faith buildings. I thank His Majesty’s Government for the places of worship protective security scheme. However, has any assessment been made by His Majesty’s Government of whether this provision is enough, given the current level of threat?
Baroness Twycross (Lab)
We will always look at what more we need to do. As the right reverend Prelate will be aware, the Home Office is committing a considerable amount of money to the Jewish community protective security fund. We are clear that we need to follow what the noble Lord, Lord Macdonald, said and review public order and hate crime legislation to make sure that we both protect but also prosecute where appropriate.
Lord Moore of Etchingham (Non-Afl)
My Lords, may I ask the Minister a point arising from what the noble Lord, Lord Polak, said about how the word Zionism is used as a sort of cover? It would help your Lordships’ House and the country if the Minister would explain how the Government define Zionism.
Baroness Twycross (Lab)
I think we would define it as the right for Jews to have their own homeland. We are really supportive of the two-state solution. At times that looks like it is an impossible goal, but we remain committed to a two-state solution and the right of Jewish people to their homeland.
Lord Mohammed of Tinsley (LD)
My Lords, to pick up on a point that I spoke to the noble Lord, Lord Polak, about outside, often people who hate one minority community also hate another. In my case, we said that people who hate us probably hate us both. But can I actually raise a point with the Minister around a loophole that we see often used by councillors who make comments and are then referred to standards boards? It is often referred to as something they did in their capacity outside being a councillor. I am sorry, but if people are elected to public office, we need to hold them to account for what they say. Maybe the Government need to go and look at that loophole, because too many councillors up and down this country, not just in the vile ITV investigation that we saw, are getting away with saying things that, while holding public office, they claim they said in a personal capacity.
Baroness Twycross (Lab)
I would agree with the noble Lord that people need to take responsibility for what they say. I am very happy to take his suggestion away.