Voters in MP Mike Freer’s constituency have expressed their fears after he announced his decision to stand down after a “constant string” of death threats, abuse and intimidation.
The justice minister and member for Finchley and Golders Green announced he would not seek re-election this year, with the “final straw” being a suspected arson attack on his constituency office in December. Freer said the onslaught of abuse had “weighed heavily” on him and his family.
Voters in his constituency, which has a large Jewish population, spoke of their shock at his decision.
Rabbi Miriam Berger at Finchley Reform synagogue said it “confirmed everything the community has been feeling since 7 October – that there’s been a significant rise in antisemitism”.
She said: “For me, the news about Mike Freer really was incredibly significant because it’s affecting the democratic process and it’s saying to people: ‘You’re in danger being even an ally to the Jewish community.’ For me that takes it to another level in terms of the reality of what it is to be a British Jew at the moment.”
Freer, an outspoken defender of Israel who has represented Finchley and Golders Green since 2010, said he and his staff started to wear stab vests at public events in his constituency after police advice.
The MP told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “The level of abuse I get standing up for my constituents on antisemitism and on Israel has to be a factor.”
Lucy Weiner, who works at the cafe at the synagogue, said: “I felt actually quite sick to the pit of my stomach that here in London, in 2024, somebody feels they have to step back from a role they’ve been so prominent in, and so successful in, for so many years because of their point of view.”
Weiner’s 23-year-old daughter, Chessy Weiner, said: “Instead of threatening someone’s safety, just don’t vote for them. That’s how we exist in a democracy.”
Weiner added: “A part of me is in disbelief that we’re actually living through times when this is happening again, and disbelief when you hear terrible things are happening and other people denying that they’re happening.”
Berger has held her post at Finchley Reform synagogue, which is protected with gates and security guards, for 18 years. “In the beginning of my career, I felt maybe the need for security was a bit of a hangover from other periods in our history when security has been so necessary.
“Now it doesn’t feel like it’s something that’s part of the past in any way, it’s very much about the present. Whenever there are people who are disagreeing with the Israeli government and their actions, it threatens the Jewish community all over the world.”
Some voters, such as Kenneth Bearsley, 71, were not aware of Freer’s decision to stand down. When asked if more should be done to protect MPs, Bearsley said: “Absolutely. In this case, if he really believes that he’s under threat then he should be protected.”
Joe Kletz, 28, said it feels “like we’re entering some kind of time that is unprecedented in modern UK history … I haven’t seen anything like this before and I don’t know how to respond to it to be frank. I mean, it is so extreme.”
Rabbi Rebecca Birk, at Finchley Progressive synagogue in north Finchley, said she was really surprised at Freer’s decision. “I texted him this morning. It feels [like] a really dark day for politics if you can be bullied out of a role because of harassment.”
Birk, 53, said she had not always agreed with the MP’s views – particularly on refugees and asylum seekers – but described him as a “great man”.
The rabbi described her concerns about Islamophobia and antisemitism within the community and hopes for calm. “My concern is not to become too polarised and to just keep things civil and calm and peaceful and allow our kids to feel like they’re still safe within the wider community.”
