The Council has adopted the International Definition of Antisemitism in full, including all of its examples.
The Definition was adopted on an unknown date in 2023.
The Council was established on 1st April 2023. It replaced Somerset County Council, Mendip, Sedgemoor, Somerset West and Taunton and South Somerset District Councils (“the former councils”).
In 2021, Campaign Against Antisemitism submitted requests to the former councils under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and it emerged that some of the former councils had adopted the International Definition of Antisemitism:
Somerset County Council adopted in full, on 22 January 2020.
Sedgemoor District Council adopted on 6th October 2021 (however it was unclear if this included the illustrative examples).
Somerset West and Taunton District Council adopted in full, on 3rd December 2019.
South Somerset District Council adopted in full, on 17th October 2019.
In 2022, the following former council confirmed that it had not yet adopted the International Definition of Antisemitism:
Mendip District Council.
The Council told Campaign Against Antisemitism: “Somerset Council has carried over the previous decision of the majority of the former Councils and has adopted the IRHA definition in full.”
This information was obtained after Campaign Against Antisemitism submitted a request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 on 10th April 2023, to which the Council responded on 2nd May 2023.
No incidents relating to the Council’s officials or councillors have been reported to us, however we recognise that antisemitism is chronically underreported and it is possible that there are incidents that have not been reported. To report an incident, please contact us.