Event Type: APT

On Sunday 7 September Rt Hon Theresa Villiers MP a member of the All-Party Inquiry into Antisemitism and supporter of the APPG, met with constituents at Barnet Synagogue to discuss their concerns about antisemitism. Together with Chief Inspector Andy Mariner from Barnet police and Danny Stone, the Director of the PCAA Foundation she answered questions about the media, campus and anti-Jewish activity emanating from the Middle East conflict.

The views expressed by those present will help to inform a parliamentary report written by MPs about the recent rise in antisemitism.

Photos courtsey of Paul Lang Photography

On 17 February, David Burrowes MP convened a meeting to discuss antisemitism and the release of the All-Party Parliamentary Inquiry into Antisemitism report. Some 100 people attended and heard from the Police, CST and the secretariat to the report.

The Cross- Government Working Group on Antisemitism met on Thursday 19th February. CST updated with Group about how their volunteers felt after antisemitic incidents across Europe, particularly in France and Copenhagen. They also discussed their reactionary security measures. The Working Group discussed plans to implement relevant recommendations made by the 2015 All-Party Parliamentary Inquiry into Antisemitism.

On 23 March 2015, the Director of the Antisemitism Policy Trust (then the PCAA Foundation) Danny Stone, together with Mark Gardner of the Community Security Trust (CST) joined a panel event for the Council of Christians and Jews to discuss antisemitism. The event, attended by some 80 people, was chaired by Adrian Cohen of Clifford Chance, who hosted the event.

On 2 June the All-Party Parliamentary Group Against Antisemitism held its inaugural AGM of the new parliament. A vote was taken on the re-election of officers and the list presented agreed to.

The then new Communities Minister, Baroness Williams of Trafford, addressed the MPs and Peers present outlining the government’s commitment to combatting antisemitism. She confirmed the continuation of the Cross-Government Working Group on Antisemitism.

Amongst those present were: John Mann MP, Lord Dubs, Lord Alderdice, Lilian Greenwood MP, Mike Freer MP, Luciana Berger MP, Guto Bebb MP, Rt Hon Margaret Hodge MP, Mark Durkan MP and Louise Ellman MP.

A full list of officers of the group can be found here.

On Wednesday 10th June, the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) came to parliament to brief members of both the APPG Against Antisemitism and the APPG on Islamophobia. The BBFC specifically explained their approaches to classifying discriminatory content in films. Amongst those in attendance were Stuart Andrew MP, Jonathan Djanogly MP, Lord Simon Haskel, John Mann MP and Naz Shah MP.

On 11-12 June 2015, John Mann MP attended and gave a keynote speech at a conference on tackling antisemitism in football, hosted by the Ann Frank House. Details about the conference, which took place at the Ajax Stadium, are available here.

On 7 September 2015, John Mann MP launched his book Antisemitism: The Oldest Hatred at Daunts bookshop in London.

On 21 September 2015, Rebecca Long-Bailey MP, the Worshipful Lord Mayor Councillor Paul Murphy, the CST, Antisemitism Policy Trust (then PCAAF) and Rabbi Jonathan Guttentag of the Conference of European Rabbis spoke to a large crowd at the Manchester Town Hall, under the auspices of the Council of Christian Jews. Rebecca Long-Bailey MP, a member of the All-Party Parliamentary Group Against Antisemitism, set out her concerns about anti-Jewish prejudice and her intention to continue to speak out against it. (Photo Credit: Jewish Telegraph)

On 20 October, more than 15 SNP MPs were briefed by the Community Security Trust, Holocaust Educational Trust and Scottish Council of Jewish Communities about modern manifestations of antisemitism, key policy concerns and the state of antisemitism in Scotland.