*** Check against delivery *** Introduction Thank you Stuart Friends It’s a real pleasure to be with you here at LFI’s annual lunch. I last addressed this event three years ago as Shadow Chancellor and a proud LFI vice-chair. Sadly, I had to stand down from the role of vice-chair Read more…
Labour Friends of Israel has today announced four new honorary vice-chairs, following the announcement last week of new honorary chair Mark Sewards MP. LFI welcomes Baroness Luciana Berger, Lord Steve McCabe, Newcastle North MP Catherine McKinnell and Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket MP Peter Prinsley as honorary vice-chairs. The four additions join Baroness Read more…
Mark Sewards, the MP for Leeds South West and Morley, will be Labour Friends of Israel’s new honorary parliamentary chair. Mark succeeds Jon Pearce MP, who stood down in September following his appointment as the prime minister’s parliamentary private secretary. In his first visit since taking up the post, Mark met this weekend Read more…
At today’s Urgent Question in the House of Commons on the intelligence used by West Midlands police that led to the ban on Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from attending Villa Park on 6 November 2025, Labour MPs raised their concerns over revelations around the decision making process. East Kilbride and Read more…
At today’s statement from Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, she set out the government’s view that reform to remove antisemtic and inciteful content from the Palestinian Authority’s educational curriculum is “a crucial part of the Palestinian Authority reforms” required by the American peace plan. Responding to the Conservative frontbench, she said: Read more…
At today’s question in the House of Lords on antisemitism at universities, Labour peers Baroness Ramsey and Baroness Berger pushed the government on its steps to tackle campus antisemitism. Baroness Ramsey asked: “My Lords, following the shocking and violent intimidation of Professor Michael Ben-Gad and the alarming data from the Read more…
At today’s Foreign Office Questions session, Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper set out the government’s position on the need for Hamas to be thoroughly disarmed in the Gaza Strip and for the bodies of the remaining hostages to be freed. She said: “We will all have seen the incredibly moving scenes Read more…
North Durham MP Luke Akehurst has written the below article for the Jewish Chronicle. Click here to read the original. The tragic conflict between Israel and Hamas has put the relationship between Britain and the Jewish state under great strain. The ceasefire deal agreed offers an opportunity for a reset – not Read more…
At today’s Urgent Question on the decision to ban Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from a match against Aston Villa, Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy MP set out the government’s opposition to the ban and to anti-Zionist antisemitism more widely. She said: “This is about who we are as a country. A Read more…
At today’s Urgent Question on the decision to ban Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from a match against Aston Villa, several Labour MPs pushed for more action from the government to tackle antisemitism and violence against Jewish people. Blackley and Middleton South MP Graham Stringer asked: “As my right hon. Friend Read more…
At today’s statement on the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, Prime Minister Keir Starmer set out the government’s position that the disarmament of Hamas is “non-negotiable”. He said: “Disarmament must be non-negotiable, and that is why it is written into the 20-point plan, and it is why we Read more…
At today’s statement from the Prime Minister on the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, Labour MPs pushed the government for greater support for peacebuilding between Israelis and Palestinians to ensure future peace. Uxbridge and South Ruislip MP Danny Beales asked: “I welcome the Prime Minister’s statement, which we all hope Read more…