Chipping Barnet MP Theresa Villiers and Labour opponent Dan Tomlinson were responding to shocking figures revealed by the Community Security Trust reports David Floyd

Chipping Barnet MP Theresa Villiers – (Credit – parliament.uk)

Barnet politicians have condemned the increase in antisemitic incidents revealed in a new report published yesterday by a charity that works to protect the Jewish community.

The Community Security Trust (CST)’s Antisemitic Incidents Report 2023 shows over four thousand instances of anti-Jewish hate recorded across the UK.

The 4,103 incidents is the highest number ever reported to CST and a 147% increase on the 1,662 incidents reported in 2022.

The charity says the figures are the result of “the unparallelled volume of antisemitism perpetrated following the Hamas terror attack on Israel” on 7th October.

864 incidents were recorded in the borough of Barnet – which has the largest Jewish population in the UK – accounting for over 20% of all the incidents in the UK and nearly 36% of all incidents in Greater London.

Responding to the report, Chipping Barnet MP Theresa Villers said: “This increase in antisemitic incidents is shocking and appalling. No one should be attacked, abused or harassed because of their faith or ethnicity. It is absolutely repellent that this upsurge in antisemitism started to occur on the day of the Hamas terror atrocity

“We must all redouble our efforts to stamp out anti-Jewish racism wherever it occurs. Social media has become a place where hatred can thrive and it is important that all elected representatives speak out against antisemitism and racism wherever it occurs.”

“I have a track record going back 20 years of campaigning against antisemitism. Never has it felt so important to be able to raise these issues in parliament and speak up both for the Jewish community and for Israel.”

Labour’s candidate for Chipping Barnet Dan Tomlinson told Barnet Post: “864 antisemitic incidents were reported in Barnet in the last year, and that is 864 too many. I will always stand with the Jewish community here in Barnet against antisemitism.

He added: “If elected as Chipping Barnet’s MP, I will work closely with the CST, schools and the police to do all we can to reduce antisemitism and tackle it when it takes place.”

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