Antisemitism
(Leeds North West)
(Lab/Co-op)
1. What recent assessment he has made of the potential
implications for his policies of levels of antisemitism in the
last 12 months.(905854)
The Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
()
We have paid close attention to the concerning figures produced
by the Home Office and the Community Security Trust, which have
shown the continued prevalence of antisemitism in
our society. We are considering Lord Mann’s recent reports on the
subject, which we will respond to in due course, and we have
increased the annual Jewish community protective security grant
to £15 million in 2023-24.
Did the Secretary of State see the research from King’s College
London, showing that those who believe in conspiracies are most
likely to be antisemitic? Much of that antisemitism takes
place online and is legal but harmful. What is he doing to tackle
conspiracism, misinformation and fake news; why are the measures
to tackle them in the Online Safety Bill so weak; and why have
the Government removed the legal but harmful provision, which
would protect so much of the Jewish community?
The hon. Gentleman is right that there is a significant overlap
between antisemitism and
conspiracy theories, and many of the tropes that conspiracists
use are drawn from the antisemitic library. However, with the
Online Safety Bill it is important to balance the right to free
speech with vigilance in dealing with hate, and this Government
are absolutely committed to combating antisemitism wherever
it rears its head.
