Keir Starmer pledges to tackle antisemitism during visit to Bushey synagogue
The Prime Minister says he will keep Jewish people "in my mind's eye" when making decisions
Last updated 27th Nov 2025
Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, has vowed to keep Jewish people "in my mind's eye", as he works towards addressing antisemitism in the UK.
During a visit to the United Synagogue in Bushey, near Watford, on Thursday, he listened to members’ accounts of their personal experiences of antisemitism and pledged to tackle both the overt and cultural challenges associated with it.
Feeling insecure
Starmer expressed concern over accounts from synagogue members, who said antisemitism had become "normalised" in the UK, and described the "lack of response from those in positions to do something about it."
He added, "The hardest thing to hear is the inevitable consequence of feeling you have to give up your identity.”
The Prime Minister acknowledged that Jewish people feeling "insecure" in the UK should be troubling for everyone.
"I don't want anyone here, or elsewhere to feel that Britain, the United Kingdom, is not a safe and secure place for them," he said.
Cultural challenges
Describing antisemitism as "a cultural issue, and that's hard," Starmer said addressing it goes beyond laws and mandatory public sector training.
"I strongly believe we should be a tolerant, diverse, live-and-let-live country where people can enjoy difference and feel safe and secure whatever their identity," he remarked.
A human approach
Speaking to synagogue members, Starmer promised to take away their stories and experiences to guide his leadership and decisions.
"Sometimes in politics it's about particular policies you follow, sometimes it's about great, flourishing speeches, other times it's more human," he said.
He continued, "Did you really listen? Did you really hear, take that in, respect what we know, and who do you have in your mind's eye when you make your decisions.
"And I'll have each and every one of you in my mind's eye in the decisions that I take on behalf of you as Prime Minister of this country."