Leaders field questions on.. the rise of antisemitism..
April 2010 (Jewish Chronicle)
Gordon Brown:
Jewish parents and students are very concerned about the rise of antisemitism and Islamic radicalism on campus. What measures would a Labour government take to stamp these out?
We will never compromise on the right to freedom of speech in our universities, but where that crosses the line and becomes intimidation or discrimination I think universities have a responsibility to take strong action and the authorities must step in where the law is broken. Universities and colleges have a responsibility to protect all their students and staff from those who seek to promote violence, incite hatred, intimidate or bully others. Many universities are already doing a great job on this, and they are to be commended, but it is precisely because we recognise that some are falling behind that we have set up a campus working group to tackle the specific issues raised in higher and further education, as part of our wider commitment to implement the London Declaration Against Anti-Semitism. I was very pleased to be the first head of Government to sign that Declaration and I know that all members of the cabinet are working hard to ensure its recommendations are being implemented in their department.
Will a Labour government make funds available to improve security around Jewish institutions including schools as recommended in the recent all-party report on antisemitism?
We make significant sums available to local authorities to fulfil the security needs of community institutions and schools. In particular, we support formal arrangements between schools and police to work together to keep young people safe, reduce crime and improve behaviour. As part of these arrangements, a police officer or police community support officer will work at a school or cluster of schools with pupils and staff. These Safer School Partnerships can benefit all schools and they should be the norm, not the exception – available to schools wherever parents or headteachers demand them.
We are proud of the strong relationship between the police and the Community Security Trust, and we will of course continue to take the CST’s advice on the specific safety concerns of the Jewish community. But we will not make ring-fenced funding available for Jewish institutions as Jewish institutions – instead local authorities must assess every school on a case by case basis so we can be sure we are giving the greatest support to those most at risk.
David Cameron:
Jewish parents and students are very concerned about the rise of antisemitism and Islamic radicalism on campus. What measures would a Conservative government take to stamp these out?
This is a worrying time for the Jewish community in Britain. The BNP is winning seats. The most disgusting literature can be found in bookshops and on university campuses. And the Community Security Trust reported more anti-Semitic incidents in the first half of 2009 than in the whole of any previous year.
So we’ve got to deal with this and drain this poison. And there are three key things we need to do.
First, stop letting people like Yusuf al-Qaradawi and Ibrahim Moussawi into this country to spread hatred. Second, ban those extremist groups like Hizb-ut-Tahrir who are already here. And third, do more – much more – to tackle radicalisation in our universities.
Of course, it’s important that academic freedom is respected and that our universities are a place where robust debate can take place. But this freedom has to be matched by responsibility – and that means making clear to university authorities and student unions that they need to help identify those who are vulnerable to influence from extremists or shown they are willing to promote hatred, just as they would in relation to any other suspected crime.
Will the Conservative Party make funds available to improve security around Jewish institutions including schools as recommended in the recent all-party report on anti-Semitism?
We’ve got to stop the rise of anti-Semitism, and I will always stand firm against anti-Semitism, in all its forms and wherever it occurs. I support the work the Community Security Trust does to provide extra vigilance for the Jewish Community. I have spoken at its dinners, supported its work and assisted with fund raising. I back faith-based organisations and what they do: they form an important part of my vision of the Big Society.
But we also need to do much more in terms of freeing up the police from bureaucracy and paperwork and form-filling so that they have more time to focus on these sorts of issues. I can promise you is that with a Conservative Government we will never allow anti-Semitism to go unchecked in this country, and we will work flat out to reverse the radicalisation and root out the sources of radicalisation which have grown up over the last few years.
Nick Clegg:
Jewish parents and students are very concerned about the rise of antisemitism and Islamic radicalism on campus. What measures would the Liberal Democrats take to stamp these out?
This is a problem we have to get on top of. Pockets of antisemitism on our campuses are deeply worrying, because this is where extremism can really take hold.
Obviously individual universities have a big role here, as do the police when the law is broken, but we mustn’t allow that to absolve politicians from doing their bit. It’s up to government and opposition parties to highlight what is happening and to help end it, for example by actively promoting interfaith dialogue in our universities.
Education is everything when it comes to tackling antisemitism, which is why we also have to teach children about the dangers of this prejudice when they’re young so we can diminish the possibility of extremism later on.
That’s why the work of organisations like the Holocaust Education Trust and the Anne Frank Trust is so important. On the University problem, I also feel very strongly that politicians have a moral duty to speak out against the completely unacceptable academic boycotts of Israeli academics, which are unacceptable and counterproductive.
Would the Liberal Democrats make funds available to improve security around Jewish institutions including schools as recommended in the recent all-party report on antisemitism?
Community policing is absolutely key to ensuring that Jewish communities feel safe, and that synagogues and cemeteries are protected.
I am a huge admirer of the CST which provides a model of Community policing from which other communities should learn. We will continue to support its work.
More broadly, our plan is to put 3000 more police on the streets. In Jewish communities those extra officers will be able to protect Jewish people and their property from any kind of attack.
We’re going to pay for those extra police by scrapping Labour’s ID cards, which will cost billions but won’t keep us safe. ID cards are compulsory in Spain but that didn’t stop the Madrid bombers, it just meant they could be identified afterwards. More police to protect Jewish institutions will be much more effective.
