CAA reviews the parties’ manifestos
Campaign Against Antisemitism has reviewed the manifestos of the major national parties in relation to antisemitism.
The following is not an exhaustive analysis of how all of the manifesto policies could impact the fight against antisemitism, but what follows are some of the most pertinent policy proposals and pledges.
Regarding protests, the Conservatives propose “a plan to counter extremism and to protect our streets” and pledge to “introduce further powers to ban face coverings, pyrotechnics and climbing on war memorials.” Moreover, the Party declares that it “will strengthen police powers to prevent protests or marches that pose a risk of serious disorder, by allowing police to take into account the cumulative impact of protests.” In addition, they promise to “place a duty on the police and prosecutors to publish regular guidance on the statements, chants or symbols, for example, the swastika or the term ‘jihad’, that in the context of political protest may constitute an offence. We will explore ways for the police to recover some of the costs of policing disruptive protests from the groups that organise them.”
On protection of Jewish institutions, the Conservatives reiterate that “we have pledged £54 million for the Community Security Trust to give Jewish schools and synagogues the security measures they need.” Meanwhile, on education, the Conservatives note that “we have allocated additional funding to support schools and universities to understand, recognise and tackle antisemitism,” adding: “we will get the UK Holocaust Memorial built.”
Finally, the manifesto pledges to expand the Online Safety Act, consulting widely, including in partnership with other countries.
The Labour Party in its manifesto pledges to “introduce a landmark Race Equality Act, to enshrine in law the full right to equal pay for Black, Asian, and other ethnic minority people, strengthen protections against dual discrimination and root out other racial inequalities.” They add that “Labour will also reverse the Conservatives’ decision to downgrade the monitoring of antisemitic and Islamophobic hate.”
On proscriptions, the Labour manifesto explains: “From the Skripal poisonings to assassination plots by the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, threats from hostile states or state-sponsored groups are on the rise, but Britain lacks a comprehensive framework to protect us. Labour will take the approach used for dealing with non-state terrorism and adapt it to deal with state based domestic security threats.”
In the online sphere, Labour says that it “will build on the Online Safety Act, bringing forward provisions as quickly as possible, and explore further measures to keep everyone safe online, particularly when using social media.”
The Liberal Democrats say that they will “scrap the Conservatives’ draconian anti-protest laws, restoring pre-existing protections for both peaceful assembly and public safety, and immediately halt the use of live facial recognition surveillance by the police and private companies.”
They also pledge to “work with communities to tackle the alarming rise of antisemitism and Islamophobia.”
Regarding proscriptions, the manifesto says they will: “Work with our allies to help bring security to the Middle East…including by recognising the existential threat of Iran not just in the Middle East but to Western democracies, by proscribing Iran’s Revolutionary Guard [the IRGC].”
Turning to social media, the Liberal Democrats pledge to “free up local officers’ time to focus on their communities by creating a new Online Crime Agency to effectively tackle illegal content and activity online, such as personal fraud, revenge porn and threats and incitement to violence on social media,” and to “require social media companies to publish reports setting out the action they have taken to address online abuse against women and girls, and other groups who share a protected characteristic.”
Reform UK, in its ‘Contract’ manifesto, announced that it would “change the definition of Hate Crime,” arguing that “the CPS [Crown Prosecution Service] and police definition of a hate crime has led to systemic bias. Members of the British public must not be investigated because ‘any’ person ‘perceives’ that a hate crime has been committed. Proper evidence must be required.”
They also pledge to “enforce existing laws to stop violent, hate demonstrations such as Free-Palestine marches.”
Finally, the Party also promises to “replace the 2010 Equalities Act [sic],” reasoning that “the Equalities Act requires discrimination in the name of ‘positive action’. We will scrap Diversity, Equality and Inclusion (DE&I) rules that have lowered standards and reduced economic productivity.”
The Greens would “scrap the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act, Public Order Act and other legislation that erodes the right to protest and to free expression.” The Party also says that it would scrap the Prevent anti-radicalisation programme.
The Party also writes in its manifesto: “The recent rise in Islamophobia and antisemitism highlights the importance of tackling hate crime and opposing divisions in our society. Elected Greens will support the right to religious expression and work with religious communities to defend the safety of places of worship.”
Plaid Cymru says in its manifesto that the Party “believes that non-violent protest is an important mechanism in democracy to show public support of solidarity for a cause. We support the right of an individual to freedom of expression and assembly. The rights of the individual should be respected, as should the rights of police officers not to be under threat of harm while carrying out their legitimate duties. We do not support the legislation introduced by the Conservative UK Government which unfairly restricts opportunities for non-violent protest. Plaid Cymru would repeal these powers at Westminster, including the relevant parts of the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 and the Public Order Act 2023. Sadly, some groups frequently resort to violence in order to make their point, and this needs to be policed in a stronger manner than events which are non-violent in nature.”
The Workers Party of Britain writes in its manifesto: “Our criticisms in this case are not antisemitic nor supportive of terrorism. Our analysis can be said to be very courageous in the current climate. Our stand against Israel is a stand for the Jewish people. We welcome Jews into our Party and we will remain steadfast opponents of antisemitism. However, we also abhor the weaponisation of antisemitism for dubious political purposes in British politics and consider that the neglect of Islamophobia in society and its weaponisation by the populist Right receives inadequate attention.”
