Kenton Synagogue Attack
Statement: Attack on kenton synagogue
The hate-filled attack on the Kenton Synagogue is the latest in a series of disgusting attacks on Jewish buildings. But these are more than attacks on buildings they are calculated attacks on the whole Jewish community, designed to destabilise and instill widespread fear. This is the very definition of terrorism.
I am grateful to the police for their swift response and for the arrests they have made in relation to some of the other attacks, but I believe it is vital that the Met police does treat these as terrorist attacks not simply as criminal damage.
I also would ask that the Home Affairs Select Committee examines the involvement of foreign actors and the ease with which they are able to launch such attacks. For too long London has been regarded by some hostile regimes as a safe base from which to operate and where money can be laundered.
That British Jewry lives under the dark shadow of antisemitic hatred is something which sadly we all have come to understand, but must NEVER come to accept. I pay tribute to the work of the CST and to the security personnel at Kenton who are always there to greet those of us who visit and to ensure the safety of the whole congregation.
In the London Borough of Brent we like to pride ourselves on the multicultural nature of our community and the harmony between all those from different faith and cultural backgrounds. But good community relations have to be worked at. They are not built on the simple toleration of the views of others. They are built on respect for our different traditions and the robust challenging of hate speech towards anyone wherever we encounter it. It is up to us all to call out the low level abuse and intolerance, because we all know that these are what facilitate and enable the escalation of a climate of hatred and violence.
Palestine Action Hunger Strike
A group of prisoners being held on remand for accusations relating to Palestine Action have been on hunger strike since the beginning of November. So far, ministers are refusing to meet with their lawyers. Barry has written to David Lammy, the Secretary of State for Justice, to ensure the human rights of his constituents are protected.
Marine policy at Labour Party Conference
At the Labour Party Conference in Liverpool at the end of September, Barry met with the Blue Marine Foundation to talk about the government’s approach to fishing, and the need to follow the science on quotas.
Letter to the PM about Gazan scholarship students
In August, Barry was part of a large group of over 100 MPs who signed a letter to the Prime Minister, urging him to facilitate the evacuation of students from Gaza who have earned scholarships to study in the UK.
Air India Disaster
My deepest condolences to the families whose loved ones have been involved in the horrific crash of AI 171.
The Indian Government has set up an Operational Control Room at the Ministry of Civil Aviation to coordinate all details.
Contact: 011-24610843 | 9650391859
For any of my constituents who have relatives involved in the disaster and who may require Consular Assistance from the British High Commission in India please email me with full details of your relative, including their address and the assistance required.
Please put “Air India Disaster” as the subject reference to your email to ensure my office acts as quickly as possible.
You can email me on:
barry.gardiner.mp@parliament.uk
The UK Foreign Office @FCDOGovUK is working with authorities in India to urgently establish the facts of this disaster and to provide support to those involved.
Anybody who requires consular assistance or who has concerns about friends and family should call 020 7008 5000.