Finchley and Golders Green tells Parliament he is ‘appalled’ about rise in anti-Semitism
Mike Freer MP raised his fears about a recent rise in anti_semitism with David Cameron during Prime Minister's Questions - Credit: Archant
Finchley and Golders Green MP Mike Freer raised his concerns about a perceived rise in anti-Semitism with David Cameron during Prime Minister’s Questions.
Speaking in Parliament in the last PMQs before the Easter recess, Mr Freer said: ‘I am sure the Prime Minister is as appalled as I am that incidents of anti-Semitism are on the rise.
“Does my Right Honourable Friend agree with me that all organisations, public and private, should root out anti-Semitism without hesitation?”
Mr Cameron said he agreed with his Conservative colleague, and called anti-Semitism “an absolute cancer in our societies”.
The Prime Minister said: “We should know that when it grows, it’s the signal of many even worse things happening to ethnic groups, and different groups all over our country.
“There is, sadly, a growth of anti-Semitism in our country and we see it in terms of attacks on Jewish people and Jewish students and it absolutely has to be stamped out.
“We should all – all of us – whatever organisation we are responsible for, make sure that happens.”
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The Prime Minister then politicised the issue, referring to recent rows within and about the Labour Party.
Mr Cameron said: “And I have to say, we do see a growth in segregation, and indeed anti-Semitism, in part of the Labour Party.’
Labour is understood to be conducting an inquiry into allegations of anti-Semitism among its student organisations, including Oxford University and the London School of Economics.
Labour peer, Lord Levy, threatened to quit the party last week unless the leadership sent a “clear message” that it would not tolerate such racism.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has strongly refuted allegations that he is failing to take action against alleged anti-Semitism within his party.
Mr Corbyn said last week: ‘“Lord Levy clearly hasn’t been listening to the seven times since I became leader that I’ve absolutely condemned anti-Semitism.
“I’m disappointed he has made the remarks. He knows full well what my views are.”
Mr Corbyn said that all racist allegations concerning the party were “properly and thoroughly investigated”.
