Tom Gordon, The Liberal Democrat MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough raised the safety of Harrogate’s Jewish community in Parliament this week. Following his attendance of a Passover service at Harrogate Synagogue where he discussed the issue of security with local congregants, Gordon raised a question with the Minister of State for Security.
One local Jewish couple he spoke to are considering leaving the UK because they feel so unsafe. This comes as a recent survey suggests antisemitism is causing around one in five British Jews to think about leaving.
Gordon referenced the recent comments of the Chief Rabbi, Sir Ephraim Mirvis that attacks on the Jewish Community are “gathering momentum”. The exchange follows a marked rise in antisemitism across the country including a series of attempted arson attacks and Jewish Community Ambulances being set alight in London last month.
The Minister gave the government’s commitment to people being able to practice their religion and go about their lives unimpeded and discussed the record levels of resource currently being invested into places of worship.
The MP welcomed the investment and has pledged to continue to promote tolerance and inter-community dialogue.
Tom said:
It is a bare basic of a liberal society that people can freely practice their religion. No one should feel their security is conditional because of their faith or ethnic background.
Every time I’ve visited the synagogue in Harrogate, we’ve had to discuss security.
I’m proud to work across the range of diverse, interfaith communities in my constituency. We all have a collective responsibility and ability to stamp out the root causes of antisemitism, and all forms of hate.
