Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has called for a significant police crackdown on antisemitic chanting at public demonstrations, including pro-Palestine marches, declaring the government "will not tolerate" such behaviour.
Government Links Hate Speech to Violence
The Prime Minister's official spokesperson stated that while free speech remains a cornerstone of British rights, it cannot extend to inciting hatred or harassing others. The spokesperson confirmed that police forces across the UK will be expected to use their existing powers "more robustly" to tackle the proliferation of antisemitism at protests.
This strong stance follows the horrific attack on a Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia, on Sunday, 15 December 2025. The assault by two gunmen resulted in 15 fatalities and 27 injuries.
Charity Warns of Unchecked Rhetoric
On Monday, 16 December, a spokesperson for a Jewish security charity warned that violent chants at protests, if left unchallenged, can lead to deadly atrocities like the Bondi Beach attack. Dave Rich, Director of Policy at the Community Security Trust (CST), argued it is "not a difficult connection to make" between hatred directed at Israel during marches and "this kind of violent terrorism".
He specifically highlighted chants calling for "intifada" and the phrase "from the river to the sea" used at some pro-Palestine demonstrations, claiming they have not been properly challenged by law enforcement or protest organisers.
Echoing this sentiment, Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis cautioned that "hate speech has the potential to become translated into hate action". He referenced the Yom Kippur attack at Heaton Park Synagogue in Manchester and the Bondi Beach atrocity as real-world consequences of such rhetoric.
Government Considers Cumulative Impact of Protests
When questioned about legislating to ban specific antisemitic chants, the Prime Minister's spokesperson reiterated that these slogans are viewed as calls to attack Jewish communities globally. The spokesperson added that Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood is examining the "cumulative effect" of repeated marches, including those held regularly in the same location, and the distress this causes communities like British Jews.
This follows an announcement in October 2025 by the Home Secretary that police would be granted powers to impose conditions on repeated protests.
Justice Minister Alex Davies-Jones also urged people to refrain from using chants like "globalise the intifada", stating they are "totally unacceptable" and designed to intimidate and call for violence. She stressed the fundamental right to protest does not include a right to intimidate citizens or incite violence on British streets.
The latest official Home Office statistics for England and Wales, published in October, revealed that Jewish people experienced the highest rate of religious hate crimes per population of any faith group. In the year to March, there were 106 religious hate crimes per 10,000 Jewish people.
