Tackling Antisemitism: National Security Adviser

Lord Polak Excerpts

Tuesday 20th October 2026 Lords Chamber

Asked by

[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.