Sir Keir Starmer warned Iran that efforts to stir up violence and hatred in the UK “will not be tolerated” amid suspicions Tehran could be backing antisemitic attacks.
The Prime Minister told leaders of community groups, senior Government ministers and police chiefs that there would be “consequences” if Iran was found to be behind some of the incidents.
Describing the situation as a “crisis” in the wake of the Golders Green attack, Sir Keir said new legislation would be rushed through to tackle “malign threats”.
Last week’s stabbing in Golders Green was the latest in a series of attacks on Britain’s Jewish community which have contributed to concerns that antisemitism is on the rise.
Speaking in Downing Street, the Prime Minister said: “One of the lines of inquiry is whether a foreign state has been behind some of these incidents.
“We are investigating, of course, all the possibilities.
“And we are clear that these actions will have consequences if that proves to be the case.
“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.
“That is why we are fast-tracking legislation to tackle these malign threats.”
The Government has promised a new law to allow it to take action against state-backed groups amid calls for the proscription of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
At a roundtable of senior figures from the police, representatives from the arts, higher education, trade unions and businesses, Sir Keir also promised new action to implement a “zero tolerance” approach to antisemitism on university campuses and action in the arts.
Universities will now be expected to “demonstrate action” to tackle antisemitism among students, the Prime Minister said.
“We will now expect them to publish the scale of the problem on their campuses, as well as the specific steps they have taken to clamp down on it. There will be zero tolerance for inaction,” he added.
The Arts Council will, meanwhile, be expected to withdraw funding and claw it back from anyone who is found to promote antisemitism, the Prime Minister said.
He also said the Government has ordered an independent audit of how allegations of antisemitism are handled.
“This will be a hard-edge review of where systems are failing,” he said. “We will not, and cannot, accept complacency, delays or weak enforcement, and where inconsistency is found, it will be challenged and addressed swiftly.”
Ahead of the meeting, the Government announced Jewish communities across England are set to receive an extra £1 million of Government funding.
The money is expected to pay for community safety work and projects aimed at countering antisemitic narratives.
As the Downing Street gathering took place, the Metropolitan Police announced that counter-terror police are investigating a suspected arson attack at a former synagogue in Tower Hamlets, east London.
Following the event, the Board of Deputies of British Jews said the roundtable was an “important moment to demonstrate a change in approach”, but said “more urgent action is necessary”.
The group presented the Government with a set of next steps they say are needed to recognise and challenge modern antisemitism in Britain.
This includes adequately resourcing police and security forces, proscribing the IRGC and ending “incitement at pro-Palestine protests”, including banned marches when necessary.
They also call for the criminal justice system to be accelerated, with the arrest and prosecution of those responsible for inciting hatred against Jews to be fast-tracked.
A spokesperson for the Campaign Against Antisemitism branded the summit a “choreographed spectacle that puts words before action”.
They said it is “absurd that basic steps have still not been announced today”, and called for the Government to proscribe the IRGC, expel the Iranian ambassador and ban the Muslim Brotherhood.
Shadow home secretary Chris Philp said the attacks on the Jewish community are a “national emergency” and urged for a moratorium on pro-Palestine marches and for all foreign citizens who are antisemitic to be deported.
Mr Philp said: “How many antisemitic attacks do there need to be for Keir Starmer to wake up and listen to the threat Britain faces?
“Jewish families are living in fear, Jewish buildings are burning, and this Prime Minister responds with the same tired words every single time.”
He also called for an increased police presence, urgent prosecutions, maximum sentencing for offenders, a comprehensive audit of counter-terrorism cases involving antisemitic motivation and implementation of Jonathan Hall KC’s recommendations on banning the IRGC.
