For many months, Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s Labour government has faced significant internal pressure. Numerous party members have urged a stronger stance in support of Palestinians, particularly concerning the dire situation in Gaza.
However, a recent horrific terrorist attack at a Manchester synagogue, claiming two lives during Yom Kippur prayer services, has brought a starkly different political challenge to Starmer’s doorstep. It highlights escalating anger among Britain’s Jewish community, who feel his government is inadequately protecting them from hatred and antisemitism.
Authorities have identified the synagogue attacker as Jihad al-Shamie, a British citizen of Syrian origin, stating that the act was motivated by “extreme Islamist ideology.”
This public frustration with Starmer’s administration was starkly visible at a vigil held for the victims. Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy was met with boos and cries of “Shame on you” from a rain-drenched crowd. Attendees passionately called for the government to halt pro-Palestinian marches, which they argued were instilling fear among Jewish citizens.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer of Britain and his wife, Victoria, pictured in Manchester, England, on Friday, following Thursday’s synagogue attack.
Despite Lammy’s attempts to offer condolences and his vow to “stand against all those who would minimize or coddle or obfuscate on anti-Jewish hate,” his remarks did little to soothe the agitated crowd. He refrained from addressing their persistent demands to ban pro-Palestinian demonstrations, further fueling their discontent.
Tony Travers, a politics professor at the London School of Economics, described the call to ban marches as “impossible,” emphasizing the unenviable position it places Lammy, Starmer, and other government officials in.
Travers elaborated, stating, “This issue is absolutely intractable. Banning protests fundamentally goes against British democratic values. Yet, a more sensitive, empathetic approach from the march organizers themselves is desperately lacking.”
David Lammy, Britain’s deputy prime minister, center, at a vigil on Friday in Manchester.
On Saturday, a demonstration in London protesting the government’s ban on a pro-Palestinian group proceeded despite explicit requests from the Metropolitan Police and Prime Minister Starmer to cancel it in light of the attack. Police reported 175 arrests by 3:45 p.m. for individuals displaying signs in support of Palestine Action.
A separate rally is scheduled for Sunday in London’s Trafalgar Square to commemorate those taken hostage during the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack and to demand the release of the remaining captives. This event falls shortly before the two-year anniversary of those attacks on Tuesday.
This potential for heightened focus on the concerns of Britain’s Jewish community presents a stark political challenge for Starmer. His ascent to power within the Labour Party was predicated on a strong commitment to eliminate the antisemitism that had become prevalent under his predecessor, Jeremy Corbyn.
Upon his election as leader in 2020, Starmer was keen to mend ties with Britain’s almost 300,000 Jewish voters. In his acceptance speech, he declared antisemitism a “stain” on the party and pledged to “tear out this poison by its roots.”
Yet, five years on, both the political landscape and the pressures have significantly evolved.
Britain’s Muslim population, now around four million, has been deeply galvanized by the two-year conflict between Israel and Hamas. The escalating death toll in Gaza, reportedly over 64,000 from Israeli bombardments (figures which do not differentiate between civilians and combatants, according to local officials), has fueled their activism.
Just a week prior, at the annual Labour Party conference, delegates passed a non-binding, pro-Palestinian resolution. It called for a complete halt to all arms sales to Israel and urged the Starmer government to “employ all means reasonably available to it to prevent the commission of a genocide in Gaza.”
Notably, delegates rejected a perceived weaker resolution that would have merely requested a partial ban on arms sales.
The combined pressure from Muslim communities and left-wing factions within the Labour Party frequently manifests in large-scale protests across London and other British cities. Pro-Palestinian marchers consistently carry banners proclaiming “Free Palestine.”
This sustained activism played a role in Starmer’s decision last month to formally recognize a Palestinian state, a move many pro-Palestinian advocates still considered long overdue. Over 250 Members of Parliament, spanning nine parties including Labour, had previously signed a letter advocating for Britain to recognize Palestinian statehood.
A demonstration organized by the Greater Manchester Friends of Palestine outside Manchester Cathedral on Saturday, with participants displaying banners.
In Manchester on Friday, the initial period of mourning swiftly transitioned into widespread frustration and anger. Community members voiced strong objections to the government’s perceived support for Palestinian statehood and the ongoing protests, which many described as both hateful and frightening.
Christian Wakeford, a Labour MP representing Manchester, reported witnessing frequent pro-Palestinian protests outside his constituency office. Anne Goldstone, 66, a resident near the targeted synagogue, recounted an unsettling incident weeks prior where a woman drove past Jewish businesses, shouting “Free Palestine.”
Speaking from a Jewish bakery in Manchester, which was under police guard, Ms. Goldstone pleaded, “Honestly, for me, the overwhelming thing is, can we have a little bit of support from the government?”
She continued, “Can they acknowledge that there’s a serious issue, and can they actually do something about it? Can they truly help us, not just with empty words of support, but with concrete action?”
Crafting a response that is both politically feasible and acceptable to all parties will likely prove a significant challenge for Mr. Starmer in the coming weeks and months.
There’s scant indication that the vocal pro-Palestinian movement is losing momentum, despite a peace initiative proposed by President Trump reportedly garnering support from both Israel and potentially Hamas. Previous attempts to mediate an end to the conflict and secure hostage releases have faltered.
The extent to which the Manchester terrorist attack will galvanize further activism from Jewish communities across Britain remains uncertain. The two victims, Adrian Daulby, 53, and Melvin Cravitz, 66, have not yet been laid to rest by their grieving families.
Flowers placed on Saturday near the Heaton Park Congregation synagogue, site of Thursday’s deadly attack.
Meanwhile, a pro-Palestinian protest unfolded in Manchester on Saturday. Speakers addressed a rally outside the city’s cathedral, where attendees waved Palestinian flags, before marching through the streets with chants of “Stop bombing Gaza now.”
This demonstration, coordinated by organizations such as Greater Manchester Friends of Palestine, the Muslim Association of Britain, and Jewish Action for Palestine, encountered a small contingent of counter-protesters.
Professor Travers suggested that the persistence of pro-Palestinian marches and the contentious reactions they provoke are easily understood.
He explained, “It’s a cause. But against the grim backdrop of the terrorism witnessed in Manchester on Thursday, these demonstrations inherently lack sensitivity. And that, truly, is the crux of the problem.”
Lizzie Dearden contributed reporting.