UK Government Announces £33 Million to Combat Rising Antisemitism Amid Investigations into Foreign Involvement

Speaking at a Downing Street roundtable with community leaders, government ministers, and police chiefs, Starmer said one line of inquiry focuses on whether a foreign state has orchestrated some incidents. He added that proven responsibility by any foreign state would lead to consequences.

'Our message to Iran, or to any other country that might seek to foment violence, hatred or division in society, is that it will not be tolerated,' Starmer said. The comments followed a knife attack in Golders Green last week, which Starmer described as utterly appalling and part of a pattern of rising antisemitism leaving Jewish communities frightened, angry, and questioning their safety in the UK.

He called the situation a crisis for all, testing national values, and hosted the event to implement a whole-of-society response.

Starmer stated that antisemitism stems from multiple sources, including Islamists, far-left, and far-right extremism, all targeting Jewish communities. To address this, the government has established the first coordinated national plan to strengthen cohesion and confront extremism in all forms.

In response to the Golders Green attack, the UK government announced an extra £25 million to boost police patrols, specialist officers, and protective security for Jewish communities, raising total funding to £58 million.

It also allocated £7 million to tackle antisemitism in schools, colleges, and universities. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government announced a further £1 million for Jewish communities across England to counter antisemitism and strengthen cohesion in high-risk areas, expanding the Common Ground program which already provides more than £4 million nationwide.

An immediate £500,000 went to Barnet council, given recent serious antisemitic incidents there and its large Jewish population.

These measures build on a backdrop of alarming rises in antisemitism, including horrific terrorist attacks in Heaton Park and Bondi Beach last year, an appalling spate of attacks in North West London in recent weeks, and last week's Golders Green incident described as a terrorist attack.

An attack left 15 dead at a Hanukkah celebration, according to reports fueling calls for tougher gun controls and more action against antisemitism. Starmer emphasized that security alone is insufficient and vowed to address underlying hatred.

He said new legislation would be rushed through to tackle malign threats. 'It's not enough to simply say we stand with Jewish communities,' Starmer stated at the summit. Separately, Indonesia's chief economic minister said the government will ramp up spending in Q2 2026 to strengthen GDP growth.

On the day's political schedule, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch campaigned in Suffolk in the morning and Coventry in the afternoon. Downing Street held a lobby briefing at noon.

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage and Welsh leader Dan Thomas spoke at a rally in south Wales at 5pm with a special guest.