Israel’s deputy foreign minister has launched a scathing attack on the UK government, accusing it of a “grotesque betrayal of truth, of justice and of Britain’s Jewish community”.
Speaking at the Conservative Friends of Israel (CFoI) reception at the party conference in Manchester, Sharren Haskel hit out at Sir Keir Starmer’s government for the decision to recognise Palestine, for “out of control” immigration that she said is changing the country and the rise of antisemitism in Britain.
It was hoped that Tory leader Kemi Badenoch would attend the annual event, as her predecessors Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss did, and there was widespread surprise that she did not appear.
Tory Party conference: Badenoch on Manchester synagogue attack
One attendee told Sky News they were “really surprised” that she did not make remarks, and another said that in the chaotic years in government, they “had about five leaders and they all showed up”.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
But speeches were given by shadow cabinet ministers Sir James Cleverly, Chris Philp, Lord David Wolfson, along with shadow foreign secretary Dame Priti Patel who attacked Labour’s “dreadful decisions”.
“They [Labour] have lost any moral purpose whatsoever. Labour is complicit in the appalling abuse we see across our streets and across Britain’s Jewish community,” she said.
Shadow chancellor to pledge further cuts to foreign aid – as Tories vow to ‘stand up for fiscal responsibility’
Kemi praises Thatcher but faces fight with grandees
A subdued Tory conference could be a chance for Badenoch to turn her fortunes around – but will she?
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Sharren Haskel was full of praise for the Conservative Party, and Ms Badenoch’s consistent support for her country.
But in an excoriating attack on the Labour government, Ms Haskell questioned what it is going to do about the “tsunami of Jew hatred and violence on Britain’s streets that has exploded since the worst massacre of Jews since the Holocaust”.
She also attacked the government’s decision to recognise Palestine – a decision in which he played a leading role – as a “grotesque betrayal of truth, of justice and of Britain’s Jewish community”.
She said it was no surprise that Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy was booed when he spoke at a vigil for the victims of the Manchester synagogue terror attack a few days ago.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Read more from Sky News:
Badenoch: Streets are ‘theatres of intimidation’
Analysis: Labour under pressure over protests
Attack ‘sadly something we feared was coming’
Ms Haskell went further in attacking the government, criticising “out of control immigration, particularly from Islamist communities hostile to your values”.
Listen to The World with Richard Engel and Yalda Hakim every Wednesday
“It is fueling antisemitism on your street. It is straining your social cohesion. It is importing the demonisation of Jews and the hatred of the Middle East into British cities,” added the Israeli deputy foreign minister.
She closed with a rallying call to the attendees to not “surrender” to a “woke agenda” and be proud of their British and English heritage.
Sky News has asked CCHQ why Kemi Badenoch did not attend the reception. The Tory leader has been highly vocal in her support for Israel and the Jewish community.
She met the deputy foreign minister earlier on Sunday, and visited the scene of Thursday’s terror attack at a Manchester synagogue before the conference began.
