Policy paper

Antisemitism: recent government actions and next steps

Updated 18 December 2025

Applies to England

Foreword from the Prime Minister

We are a decent, tolerant, respectful nation where people of all faiths and backgrounds stand together under the same flag as neighbours and friends. Our shuls, Jewish charities, communal organisations and Jewish schools, among our institutions, have long been an integral part of British society.

Yet for British Jews, security at the doors of their community institutions is now also a part of what it means to be Jewish in Britain. And antisemitism has been rising in recent years. The atrocities of 7 October 2023, the worst attack on Jewish people since the Holocaust and the ensuing conflict in Gaza, have heightened division here in the UK. At the heart of this antisemitism for some has been hatred of the world’s only Jewish state, Israel. On our streets, as some have exercised their legitimate freedom to protest the actions of the Israeli government, others have used this as a despicable excuse to threaten British Jews and stoke division and hate in our communities.

When I heard the news of the attack on Heaton Park Synagogue on Yom Kippur, I was horrified. And my thoughts remain with the families and friends of Melvin Cravitz and Adrian Daulby. Yet I am struck by what the Jewish community have said to me so many times in these recent months. Time and again I heard this sense that antisemitism has become normalised – from our schools and universities to workplaces and even the NHS. I heard how people felt they had to hide their Jewish identity in modern Britain, and that the attack was a shock but not a surprise.

The same is true around the world. There has been an alarming rise in antisemitism with international attacks targeted at Jews, the latest of which occurred at a Chanukah candle lighting in Sydney with the brutal murder of Jews in front of their family and friends.

Our first response is one of solidarity. We stand together with British Jews and with all Jewish people. We condemn unequivocally the hatred and poisonous extremism which has led to these attacks. And we reaffirm that defending the Jewish way of life is part of defending the liberties and freedoms of the British way of life.

But words alone are never a substitute for action. Rooting out antisemitism in my political party was the single most important task for me when I became Labour Leader. And I am just as determined to root it out of our country. This document sets out some of the important steps we have taken, both before and after the Heaton Park attack. We will continue to build on this work, listening to our Jewish community and working with them closely.

Britain has a great future ahead, where opportunity is shared, and pride is restored. But I know that standing between us and that future is a pervasive hatred which must be confronted. Working together, united in this common cause, we can and must succeed. Together, we will defend our values and uphold the country we are and want to be.

Antisemitism

Antisemitism is both overt and covert. The horrendous terrorist attack at the Heaton Park synagogue in Manchester was a clear manifestation of antisemitic radical Islamist terrorism.

Though antisemitism is a deep-rooted problem, we have seen a significant increase in incidents over recent years, particularly since the atrocities of 7 October. This has come from an array of ideological sources: far-left, far-right, and Islamist. The war has led to an increase in protests, a right protected by our laws. However, protesters’ anger at the actions of the Israeli government has often crossed the line. We have seen some people calling for, or seeking to justify, the murder of people they have never met, or targeting Jewish people as a collective.

Antisemitism has intensified in the arts, sport, schools, universities, workplaces and the NHS. We are also extremely concerned about the spread of antisemitic content on social media. The government has been clear that we need to urgently tackle this divisive, hateful content online, and has taken action to do so.

This is reflected in our hate crime statistics, which show that in the last year (to March 2025) there were 106 religious hate crimes against Jews per 10,000 population, the highest rate for any group by some distance. We know that not all incidents are reported. There has been a day-to-day acceptance of poisonous words that has seen Jewish people hiding their identities in fear of abuse.

All forms of antisemitism have the same impact: fear, isolation, a breakdown of trust between communities, and normalisation of extremist views. Not only is antisemitism morally unacceptable, but it is a threat to the fabric of this nation. The UK has a strong history of being an open and tolerant society, where people of all backgrounds can live and work together. We must work hard to defend our values and uphold the country we want to be.

Actions

This government is committed to stamping out antisemitism wherever, and however, it manifests. We recognise the need to work with Jewish communities to understand and tackle antisemitism. Since coming into power, we re-established the cross-government Antisemitism Working Group which had not met since 2020. We are extremely grateful to representatives from the Antisemitism Policy Trust, the Board of Deputies of British Jews, the Community Security Trust, and the Jewish Leadership Council for their contributions to this group, and to Lord John Mann, the government’s independent advisor on antisemitism. The reports produced by the Board of Deputies, Lord Mann, and the Rt. Hon. Dame Penny Mordaunt, both before and after the Heaton Park attack, have also provided a valuable framework for our discussions and wider thinking. The role of the Working Group is to enable government to understand antisemitism and how to tackle it, working across government departments on specific issues and the implementation of any changes.

Working with this group and wider stakeholders, this government has made several policy and funding announcements to address antisemitism. We have prioritised interventions in the following areas: 

1. Security: Providing better support to ensure the safety and security of Jewish communities.
2. Education: Tackling antisemitism in schools, colleges, and universities and ensuring that we raise children and young people who embrace people from all backgrounds and faiths.
3. Institutional Action: Tackling antisemitism in key institutions, particularly the NHS, and the culture, sport, and voluntary sectors.

Security

It should not be the case that Jewish institutions need such high levels of security. However, given the current level of threat, we are grateful for the longstanding expertise of the Community Security Trust and – crucially – a network of willing volunteers from across the Jewish community. The Community Security Trust’s leadership on threat monitoring, security coordination, and data gathering is essential as we work to further reduce risk and strengthen community resilience.

We have continued to guarantee the Jewish Community Protective Security Grant, providing £18 million per year until 2028. In addition, in the light of the Heaton Park attack, we have provided £10 million additional funding this year. This is to strengthen the security measures around synagogues and Jewish schools.

Countering antisemitism is an operational priority for our security and intelligence services. They deliver on this by disrupting extremist networks, preventing attacks, and safeguarding Jewish communities across the UK.

Crime and Policing Bill

We recognise the distress and intimidation caused by protests outside places of worship, as well as the cumulative impact of repeated demonstrations. Through the Crime and Policing Bill, we are bringing forward new legislation to address:

Protests outside places of worship

New powers will allow the police to use a new threshold when deciding the appropriate timing, location, or route of a protest to avoid people being intimidated in their places of worship. Those who fail to comply with conditions, and are convicted of this offence, could face up to six months’ imprisonment or a fine of up to £2,500.

Use of face coverings

A new measure will make it a criminal offence to wear or use something that conceals identity in the area of a protest that has been designated by the police. This will support the policing of large-scale protests, which often involve people behaving in a criminal manner whilst hiding their identity. The measure includes exemptions where someone is wearing or using the item for the purpose of religious observance or relating to health or their work. Individuals convicted are liable to receive a penalty of up to £1,000 and up to one month’s imprisonment.

Repeated disruption

New police powers will help protect communities from repeated disruption caused by protests, especially where the same site has been targeted repeatedly, causing serious disruption to the local community. The right to protest is fundamental in this country, but this must be balanced with the right of others to feel safe in their communities.

The Home Office is in regular contact with police forces about protests, ensuring they have the powers and support they need while respecting their operational independence. The government continues to work with law enforcement agencies to understand new and emerging radicalising threats to society. Using existing mechanisms, we analyse, prevent, and disrupt the spread of high-harm extremist ideologies that can lead to community division and radicalisation. This is particularly important for those that radicalise others, but deliberately operate below counter-terrorism thresholds. Our legislation protects the freedom of expression, but this cannot be used as a shield for unlawful behaviour.

Our legislation also protects people from threatening, harassing, or abusive behaviour, and the police have powers to deal with those who cross the line. We are also developing a clearer picture of antisemitic crime so that we build on our understanding of where, how, and by whom these offences are committed. We can then use this intelligence across government to shape future policy.

Public Order and Hate Crime Review

We have appointed Lord Macdonald of River Glaven KC to lead an independent review of public order and hate crime legislation. This review will include the powers available to police for managing protests, as well as our hate crime laws, including offences relating to aggravated behaviour and the ‘stirring up’ of hatred. The review will examine whether existing legislation is effective and proportionate, and whether it strikes the right balance between protecting free speech and peaceful protest, and preventing disorder and keeping people safe. The review is now underway, and will conclude by spring 2026. A targeted call for evidence has been issued, inviting Jewish and other faith community groups to share their views.

Education

Our schools, colleges, and universities should be inclusive environments for all learners, giving students and staff the space to develop a rich understanding of different cultures and experiences, to learn how to disagree well, and to call out extremist ideologies. Our action in education is both about protecting Jewish young people and ensuring that future generations are given the tools to live well together.

Protecting Young Jewish People

Antisemitism is present on many university campuses. Following the Heaton Park attack, we have heard from the Union of Jewish Students that the threat to Jewish student life is at its most urgent since 7 October, and that divisive campus discourse on Israel and Palestine continues to escalate, sometimes leading to the glorification of terrorism.

We have committed £7 million of funding to tackle antisemitism in schools, colleges, and universities. This includes: £1.325 million to Palace Yard (in close collaboration with several key Jewish community groups) for the delivery of a scholarship programme for 1,500 members of staff across schools, colleges, and universities; and £1 million to the Union of Jewish Students to upskill non-academic professional staff from over 80% of universities on how to recognise and address antisemitism.

As part of the £7 million investment, we will soon be launching a Tackling Antisemitism in Education innovation fund, which will help identify and tackle misinformation, improve media literacy, and promote tolerant debate and discussions.

We are working with universities on how they can manage protests on university campuses effectively. The Secretary of State for Education wrote to university vice-chancellors in October urging them to take steps to protect Jewish students from harassment. She reminded Vice Chancellors that, while universities have duties to protect freedom of speech, these protections do not extend to unlawful harassment or incitement to violence.

Universities must act where frequent or intrusive protests infringe on free speech, access to education, and Jewish religious expression. This might include requiring disruptive or intimidating protesters to relocate, working with local police forces where necessary. University leaders should adopt a public zero-tolerance position on antisemitic harassment, and be clear that student groups who unlawfully glorify terrorism should face disciplinary action.

It is vital that we learn from, and replicate, the best examples of universities providing proactive support for Jewish students. We will work closely with the higher education sector and the Union of Jewish Students to produce clear, practical guidance on Jewish student safety and wellbeing: this will be issued shortly.

Developing Our Curriculum

To build a more compassionate and respectful society, we must ensure that our young people are equipped to combat antisemitism and prejudice. On 5 November 2025 we published the final report of the independent Curriculum and Assessment Review, alongside the government’s response. The report’s recommendations for curriculum reform will help tackle hatred and prejudice by ensuring that, in areas such as Citizenship and Religious Education, the refreshed national curriculum and its supporting resources reflect our modern society. There will also be a renewed focus on improving young people’s media literacy, helping them think more critically about the content they consume.

The Department for Education’s Educate Against Hate website provides schools and parents with free, quality-assured teaching resources. These materials help navigate discussions over sensitive topics and aid in our endeavours to ending hate and prejudice in our schools. We plan to include even more resources to help schools and colleges in their efforts to tackle antisemitism in the new year.

We have given £2 million to the Holocaust Educational Trust to deliver the ‘Supporting Holocaust Survivor Testimony in Teaching’ programme. From this month, every secondary school will be provided with resources to facilitate using survivor testimony in teaching.

The Holocaust Memorial Bill – which will remove restrictions on building a Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre in Victoria Gardens, next to the Houses of Parliament – is currently in its final parliamentary stages. Once built, the Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre will serve as a focal point for national remembrance of the Holocaust.

Institutional Action

We are deeply concerned about how normalised antisemitic views have become, be it in the media, at sports’ stadiums, in the healthcare system, or in the workplace. This will take time to change, but we are committed to rooting out antisemitism wherever it occurs. We are working with leaders across sectors to improve understanding and ensure antisemitic incidents – be they explicit or implicit – are effectively challenged.

Health

Jewish employees within NHS organisations have said that they feel that antisemitism has simply been brushed under the carpet, and Jewish patients have reported feeling unsafe or unwelcome while they, or their loved ones, are receiving treatment. Lord Mann is leading an urgent, rapid review into how healthcare regulators tackle antisemitism and racism at every stage, from employment through to professional oversight. This includes regulatory processes, transparency in investigations, reporting mechanisms, and how zero-tolerance policies can be more effectively implemented across the health service.

At the same time, we are ensuring all NHS organisations align with the NHS Core Skills Framework. The existing module on equality, diversity, and human rights is being expanded to cover discrimination and antisemitism in greater depth, with new assessment questions developed with subject experts. Once the enhanced content is available, staff will be asked to refresh their training immediately, rather than waiting for the standard three-year cycle.

NHS England is reviewing the uniform and workwear guidance last updated in 2020, in light of recent successful approaches rolled out at University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust. NHS England will engage stakeholders on its proposals and issue new guidance shortly. The guidance will protect freedom of religious expression while ensuring patients feel respected at all times.

Media and Culture

We hear and understand the deep concern about the amplification of antisemitism in public life. We are taking decisive action to tackle this hate and to ensure the spaces that shape our national conversation – our media, culture, and sport – reflect our shared British values of respect and tolerance.

We are working closely with key institutions such as the BBC to foster a trusted, accurate media environment. The BBC’s new mandatory staff training on antisemitism has been developed with the Antisemitism Policy Trust, the Community Security Trust, and Jewish staff. By supporting the sustainability of high-quality news providers, particularly at a local level, we are also tackling the drivers of extremism and division by helping to combat mis- and disinformation.

Online Safety

Antisemitic content is widespread online. From overt hate speech and coordinated harassment campaigns, to coded language and conspiracy theories, online antisemitism is rapidly spread and amplified, and has real world consequences.

The Online Safety Act places strong duties on social media platforms to protect all users from illegal content, including illegal hate speech and abuse. As of March 2025, these duties came into effect, and the independent regulator Ofcom has already begun to take enforcement action against platforms that are failing to meet these new legal obligations.

The strongest protections are for children. From July 2025, children have been protected from online content that is harmful to them, including bullying or hateful content.

The Secretary of State for the Department for Science, Innovation, and Technology wrote to Ofcom in October and asked it to focus its efforts on safety improvements among services that pose the highest risk of harm to users, such as those that exist purely to fuel hate and division, often spreading disturbing racist content. The Secretary of State has been clear with Ofcom that it should use all its levers under the Act to tackle antisemitic content online.

Sport

We are determined to make sport inclusive for everyone, from grassroots clubs to major events. All football authorities must take decisive, proactive steps to confront discrimination, and we will continue to support this vital work.

Sport is a source of joy and excitement for millions of people around the world. Supporters should be able to follow their team, whatever their nationality, faith or background. This underpins our broader mission: a shared dedication to tackling inequalities, increasing faith group participation in sport and physical activity, and ensuring that everyone – everywhere – can play, train, and compete in an environment they are confident will respect and champion them.

Local Authorities

We are encouraging local authorities to take practical steps to challenge and eradicate antisemitism. This includes sharing intelligence with the police, rethinking approaches to protests, making best use of Public Space Protection Orders, and adopting the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s Working Definition of Antisemitism – which most councils have already done.

Voluntary Sector

The voluntary sector has immense power to change lives and bring communities together. However, we have seen too many shocking cases where extremists have tried to exploit charities to spread hate and division. Since October 2023, the Charity Commission – the independent regulator – has opened over 300 regulatory cases and made around 70 referrals to police where criminal offences might have been committed.

We are working across this sector to uphold its integrity and ensure that all communities, including faith groups, are supported. To do so, we are strengthening the powers of the Charity Commission. Forthcoming legislation will automatically ban individuals convicted of hate crimes from serving as charity trustees or senior managers, and make it easier for the Commission to act against those promoting violence or hatred. These changes will protect the integrity of a sector built on trust and goodwill.

Conclusion and Next Steps

These actions are only the beginning. We know that we need to do more to uphold our shared values and strengthen social cohesion.

This must mark a turning point in confronting the rising tide of antisemitism. We have taken some important initial steps and made progress. Work is underway across Whitehall as we continue to root out this hatred from every part of British life.

Yet tackling antisemitism requires action and resolve across society.

We must be more robust in standing up for our shared values and calling out the hateful ideologies that seek to divide us. Alongside further work on antisemitism, we will set out in the new year a wider action plan to improve social cohesion and to counter extremism across the board. This will address the deeper drivers of hate and prejudice within the UK.

We know extremism drives antisemitism. Tackling this remains an operational priority for our security and intelligence services, and we are committed to ensuring they are equipped to confront this evolving challenge.

This is a test of who we are as a country: our commitment to fairness, to one another, and to the values that bind us together.

We must all rise to that test.

If what we do does not work for the Jewish community, then it does not work at all.