Muted publicity for Jewish reception at Buckingham Palace shows that celebrating Jewish life in the UK has now become a political issue

A reception at Buckingham Palace meant to celebrate Jewish life in the UK was organised without publicity for fear that, a week prior to a general election in which antisemitism has been a significant issue, it risked being misrepresented as a political statement.

The reception, organised by Clarence House and months in the making, included leaders of the Jewish community and, unusually, national media were not invited to cover the event.

Without casting blame on the Palace, it is gravely disappointing that British society has come to a point where celebrating Jewish life and the contribution of the Jewish community to the UK risks being seen as a partisan statement. Labour’s institutional antisemitism has not only corrupted that once fiercely anti-racist Party but has had a noticeable, detrimental effect on wider society as well.

A Clarence House spokesman said: “The Prince of Wales has a long history of supporting minority communities in the UK and around the world. This particular event was planned in the spring to celebrate the contributions made by members of the Jewish community to all aspects of British life.”

On 8th December, regardless of religion, race or politics, Jews and non-Jews alike will gather in Parliament Square to declare that they stand together against antisemitism in the face of Jew-hatred in politics and mounting anti-Jewish hate crime.