Extract from Home
Office topical questions
(Filton and Bradley Stoke)
(Con): What steps is my right hon. Friend taking to provide
advice to police forces across the country to help them support
communities during the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas?
The Minister for Security (): My hon. Friend is right to ask that question,
because sadly, we have seen an absolutely vile upsurge in
antisemitism on our streets. We have seen people who claim to be
speaking out for equality and justice actually defending people
who take slaves, who violate women’s and girls’ rights, and who
here in our own country make the Jewish community feel
uncomfortable. That is exactly why this Government have committed
£18 million to the Community Security Trust. Very sadly, we have
also had to commit £7 million to academic security, because there
has also been a massive increase in antisemitism in universities.
We are combating all of that.
Sir (New Forest East) (Con): How
many times must a demonstration in the same cause be repeated,
week in and week out, before the well-funded organisers become
liable to pay for at least part of the policing costs?
The Secretary of State for the Home Department (): Of course, we recognise
that there is legitimacy to public protests. We also recognise
that the unprecedented and unwarranted pressure that this is
putting on policing around the country is having an impact on
communities. My view is that the organisers have made their
point, and repeating it does not strengthen their argument.
Unfortunately, we are also seeing some deeply distasteful people
weaving themselves in among those protesters, who are protesting
on issues that they feel passionately about, but whose good will
is being abused by others
Statement (Commons) by
Prime Minister on Defending the UK and
Allies
Defending the UK and Allies
Lords repeat of Commons Urgent
Question on Jan 8 on Israel and Gaza
Lords repeat of Commons
statement on Defending the UK and Allies
Extract from Points of
Order (Commons)
(Coventry South) (Lab): On a
point of order, Mr Deputy Speaker. In line with the House’s
rules, I informed the Member in question that I would be
referencing him.
In the statement, the hon. Member for Brigg and Goole () implied that I had given a
“free pass” to the terrorists who carried out the 7 October
attacks. That claim is grotesquely untrue. My question to the
Prime Minister in no way had that implication. I was calling for
de-escalation in the region and for an immediate ceasefire, so
the hon. Gentleman’s accusation is absolutely untrue. In this
House and elsewhere, I have repeatedly condemned the actions of
Hamas and called for the release of all hostages. Moreover, his
gross accusation plays to a racist trope by implying that,
because I am a Muslim, I support Hamas. With rising Islamophobia
and racist tropes asking British Muslims to prove their loyalty,
Mr Deputy Speaker, may I ask you for guidance on how to get a
full retraction and an apology from the hon. Member for Brigg and
Goole?
(Brigg and Goole) (Con):
Further to that point of order, Mr Deputy Speaker. As loth as I
am to engage in this silliness, let me be absolutely clear to the
hon. Lady that not only did I not reference her, but I have on
numerous occasions—[Interruption.] If she will listen to my
response, I have said on numerous occasions that too many people
have failed to call out what I think is unacceptable behaviour. I
have said that before, and I am not going to stop saying that, on
occasion, I think people have given a free pass to this behaviour
and have not dealt with it with a fair hand. That is an open
point of debate. I have called out people on my own side for
that—[Interruption.] Will she listen to me? It has absolutely
nothing to do with this.
I do not want to engage in this silliness, but I say to the hon.
Lady that I have absolutely no intention of implying that she is
any way—[Interruption.] Let me respond. I have no intention of
implying that she in any way supports that. I am sure she does
not, I did not say that and I would never say it. However, I am
also not going to not say what I think in this House or to stop
calling people out. On this issue, I think too many people in
this place are giving a free pass to one side while not
acknowledging the horrors that the other side suffered
