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 with Leeds University Jewish Society (JSoc), where he heard from Jewish students about their experiences on campus since October 2023 and the pressing issues of antisemitism and safety facing Jews, both students and staff, at UK universities.
Speaking after his appointment as LFI honorary chair, Mark Sewards MP said:
“I am delighted to take up this role, succeeding the principled and determined leadership of my colleague, Jon Pearce.
“For the first time in the two years since the dreadful events of 7 October 2023 and the resulting tragic conflict in Gaza, the Middle East has an opportunity for a more peaceful future, as laid out in the UN-backed peace plan.
“We now need to see the final three Israeli hostages returned to their grieving families; Hamas disarmed; an international effort to rebuild Gaza for its long-suffering people; and Palestinian statebuilding through radical reform of the Palestinian Authority. The UK can have a leading role in bringing this future about.
“In May, I joined an LFI delegation and saw for myself the impact that the harrowing 7 October attacks and the terrible conflict it sparked have had on Israelis and Palestinians alike.
“Now more than ever, the shared ambitions of LFI and our Labour government must be clear: to work towards two states for two peoples; promote peacebuilding between Israelis and Palestinians; strengthen regional security and prosperity; enhance the relationship between Britain, Israel and Palestine; support an International Fund for peacebuilding and reconciliation; and take on anti-Zionist antisemitism wherever we find it.
“I’ve been sickened by the tidal wave of antisemitism that has hit our country, including in Leeds and on campus, since 7 October – culminating in the murder of two Jewish people in Manchester on Yom Kippur. That’s why I wanted my first visit to be to Leeds JSoc to hear first hand about the experience of Jewish students.
“I am determined to help ensure that, just as Keir Starmer defeated antisemitism in the Labour party, our Labour government will lead the fight against hatred of Jews in the country.”
Quote from Michael Rubin, director of LFI:
“I am so pleased to welcome Mark as the new chair of LFI. I’ve known Mark for almost 15 years, and he has always been a resolute ally to the Jewish community, from his time as a student activist to his election to the House of Commons. I know he is totally committed to ensuring that the Labour government remains an ally of the Jewish community and committed – as the Blair and Brown governments were – to maintaining and renewing the longstanding friendship between the UK and Israel. I want to pay tribute to Jon Pearce for his outstanding leadership in extraordinarily challenging circumstances, which remained clear-sighted and rooted in an approach that was pro-Israel, pro-Palestine and pro-peace”.
