Keir Starmer condemns 'un-British' Palestine protesters in October 7 anniversary message

On the anniversary of the attacks, Sir Keir has written in The Times that Israeli children deserve to live alongside their Palestinian neighbours in "safety and security".

The Prime Minister went on to declare protests scheduled to take place at British universities across the country “un-British”.

Sir Keir added that certain demonstrations have been used as a “despicable excuse to attack British Jews” by parts of the pro-Palestine movement.

In the anniversary message, he wrote: “Today, we mark two years since the horrifying attacks on Israel by Hamas terrorists on October 7, 2023.

“Time does not diminish the evil we saw that day. The worst attack on the Jewish people since the Holocaust. The brutal, cold-blooded torture and murder of Jews in their own homes. And the taking of hostages, including British citizens, some of whom remain in Gaza today.

“Since that awful day, so many have endured a living nightmare. When I spoke with some of the families of the British hostages, I promised them in person that we will not cease in our efforts to bring their loved ones home.

“But back here in the UK, our Jewish communities have also endured rising antisemitism on our streets, in our country. And last week, a horrifying terrorist attack on the holy day of Yom Kippur in Manchester.

“This is a stain on who we are, and this country will always stand tall and united against those who wish harm and hatred upon Jewish communities."

He added that "on the anniversary of the atrocities of October 7, students are once again planning protests".

“This is not who we are as a country. It’s un-British to have so little respect for others," he continued.

"And that’s before some of them decide to start chanting hatred towards Jewish people all over again.”

Pro-Palestinian events, including talks, vigils and protests, are scheduled to take place in Birmingham, Bristol, Glasgow, Edinburgh and London on Tuesday.

Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick has panned the planned events as a "f****** disgrace".

Mr Jenrick, who like the Prime Minister is married to a Jewish woman, told a fringe event at the Conservative Party Conference in Manchester: “I would say first and foremost to people, our fellow citizens who are thinking of doing that, show some common decency.”

His party leader Kemi Badenoch said on the anniversary: "Israel, the world's only Jewish state, has faced hatred, war and terror since the day it was founded. And yet, it has stood strong. A beacon of democracy and resilience in the Middle East.

"But two years on from the horrific massacre on October 7, we must also be honest: the same hatred that fuelled those barbaric attacks still festers today.

"We see it in the so-called 'protests' that turn into hate marches on our streets. We hear it in chants calling to 'globalise the intifada'. And we saw it again, tragically, in the appalling terrorist attack on our Jewish community right here in Manchester just last week.

"It is shameful that in recognising Palestine as a state, the Government has rewarded the terrorists that perpetrated the October 7 atrocities.

"Appeasement does not work. There are still 48 hostages held captive in Gaza. They must come home now."

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said that demonstrations have caused “considerable fear” for Britain's Jewish communities.

She has also pledged to hand police greater powers to restrict demonstrations in future.

The Government has said it will amend Sections 12 and 14 of the Public Order Act 1986 to enable the authorities to take into consideration the "cumulative impact" of repeated protests on local areas.

Ms Mahmood is also set to review whether current police powers are sufficient and being consistently applied by forces.

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