Moving and powerful, the speech in the House of Lords by one of Britain’s most prominent Jews was also remarkably prescient.
Lord Polak, Honorary President of the Conservative Friends of Israel, described a meeting that day with 40 to 50 survivors at the Holocaust Survivors’ Centre in Golders Green in north London.
‘I asked them: having been through what they went through, are they surprised about the extent of anti-Semitism in the United Kingdom today? It was shocking to hear what these people, given what they have been through, said to me. Anti-Semitism is rising sharply and visibly. Recent events have shown the devastating consequences of this hatred, in the UK and abroad.’
He said the Crown Prosecution Service was struggling to cope. ‘Too often, victims come forward and see no meaningful outcome. Anti-Semitism is not properly prosecuted. That is the reality. We are seeing cases where clear anti-Semitic conduct is not being charged.’
Lord Polak, Honorary President of the Conservative Friends of Israel, said: ‘It’s shameful that victims of the Holocaust are having sleepless nights in this country all over again’
The burnt out remains of Hatzola ambulances after they were firebombed in Golders Green
Just five days later, four ambulances owned by Jewish organisation Hatzolah, meaning rescue or relief, were firebombed just yards from where Polak had met the Holocaust survivors. ‘It’s shameful that victims of the Holocaust are having sleepless nights in this country all over again,’ he told me.
Arise Lord Hypocrite
Much speculation that London’s Labour mayor Sadiq Khan will be elevated to the House of Lords. The same Khan who told a Commons debate in July 2012 the House of Lords should be abolished and replaced ‘with an elected’ second chamber.
- Eleven bishops joined the late-night sitting in the House of Lords to oppose the decriminalisation of abortion, with the new Archbishop of Canterbury Dame Sarah Mullally making a speech against reform. But where were the other 15 Anglican bishops? Could there have been any more pressing issue for our Christian leaders to address. Don’t they believe in anything?
- The order of service for Dame Sarah’s enthronement as Archbishop of Canterbury had a pointed comment: its first inside page was devoted to a ‘safeguarding notice’. Dame Sarah’s predecessor, Justin Welby, was brought down by a safeguarding scandal.
- Last week Parliament joined in with Earth Hour 2026 as landmarks across the world switched off lights for one hour to raise awareness of environmental issues. Or was it a rehearsal for blackouts which could come if the Government doesn’t lift its moratorium on drilling for oil and gas in the North Sea?
- A fluff from Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, who tried to denounce Israeli settlements as a ‘flagrant breach of international law’. It popped out in an appearance before MPs last week as a ‘fragrant bleach’. Funniest thing he’s said for ages.
- Green party leader Zack Polanski’s economics speech last week was a stinker – and so was the venue. The New Economics Foundation’s premises in north London had waterless lavatories. ‘Basically just holes in the ground,’ said one horrified female reporter.
Philip wasn’t in tune
Singer Michael Ball recalls his pride at meeting the late Queen after a Royal Variety performance when he sang People Will Say We’re In Love, from the musical Oklahoma! to mark her 60th wedding anniversary.
Ball told Sussex Life: ‘The Queen was a little bit misty-eyed when I met her in the line-up and said it was lovely to revisit that.’ Ball was then introduced to Prince Philip and told him: ‘We heard you went to that show and that was your song with Her Majesty.’ Philip retorted: ‘I don’t think I’ve ever heard that song in my life.’
