British Jewry congratulates Starmer on Labour election victory

British Jewish leadership congratulated the Labour Party and its leader, the new Prime Minister Keir Starmer on their election victory, while also thanking and bidding farewell to former prime minister Rishi Sunak and his outgoing Conservative Party government.

The Board of Deputies of British Jews President Phil Rosenberg issued a statement on Friday welcoming the Labour Party’s “historic election victory” with 412 seats in the House of Commons.

“The day is Labour’s, and we wish Keir Starmer and his new government every success,” said Rosenberg. “We look forward to working with Keir and his Cabinet, many of whose members will be longstanding communal allies and personal friends, to advance our common objectives and values. While there may be disagreements along the way, we will seek to resolve these through constructive engagement.”

The Jewish Leadership Council (JLC) said in its statement that it congratulated Starmer for his successful election campaign and that it was “looking forward to working with his government for the continued benefit of the UK Jewish community at this critical time.”

Chief rabbi celebrates Starmer's success

Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis welcomed Starmer’s assumption of the “mantle of national leadership,” saying on social media that it came at a time when the world was threatened by “polarization, extremism and conflict.”

“May he successfully confront these challenges with wisdom and compassion, and may his government bring the blessings of prosperity, social cohesion and security to all the citizens of our great country,” said Mirvis. 

Rosenberg thanked Sunak and the Conservative Party for what their government had done for the Jewish community in the last 14 years of Tory rule, including “adopting the IHRA [International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance working] definition of antisemitism, funding security for our communal buildings, proscribing Hamas and Hezbollah, standing as a steadfast ally of Israel, or advancing plans for a new Holocaust Memorial and Learning Center beside Parliament.

“We will not forget these kindnesses and will be working to build on them,” said Rosenberg.

JLC extended its particular gratitude to Sunak and his government for their support during the “challenging nine months for the Jewish people since the October 7 attack.”

The Conservative Friends of Israel said in a statement that under Sunak’s leadership the UK-Israel relationship had been strong and he had stood firmly with Israel during this  critical time. CFOI listed the former government’s achievements, including advancing legislation banning Israel boycotts, opposing the International Criminal Court’s investigation of Israel, signing new strategic partnerships, and intercepting Iranian missiles and drones targeting Israel during the April 13 attack.

The group said it would miss its parliamentary chair Stephen Crabb, who was one of several CFOI allies who had lost their seats, among the 244 relinquished.

Many Jewish groups welcomed the election of Jewish Labour MPs as part of the sweeping red wave.

“We are delighted to welcome a number of new, proudly Jewish MPs to the House of Commons benches, including one of our deputies, Peter Prinsley, the new Labour MP for Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket,” said Rosenberg.

We Believe in Israel announced that Luke Akherst, who had long been a non-Jewish advocate for the Jewish community, had been elected in North Durham.

The Jewish Labour Movement welcomed the victory of many MPs that it had campaigned for, including Jewish MPs such as Makerfield MP Josh Simons, Bury St Edmunds MP Peter Prinsley, Hendon MP David Pinto-Duschinsky, and Finchley and Golders Green  MP Sarah Sackman.

JLM National Chair Mike Katz said that wins in areas with large Jewish populations showed that Jews can and do trust Labour again.

Labour Friends of Israel echoed these sentiments, saying that election results in such areas “are the best measure of the progress our party has made towards Keir’s foundational commitment to tear out [Jeremy] Corbyn-era antisemitism by its roots.”

“Keir’s leadership and the fortitude of all those who know Labour is at its best as a credible, mainstream party fit for government, have changed our party beyond recognition from the dark days of 2019,” said LFOI. “At an uncertain and painful time for Jewish people in Britain and around the world, we know the new Labour government will be a true champion of the Jewish community.”

Rosenberg also recalled that Labour was “unfit to govern” under Corbyn, and that Starmer had fundamentally changed the party after taking the reins in 2020.

Labour Against Antisemitism noted on social media that in Islington North Corbyn continued to maintain a hold on UK politics, winning the parliamentary seat as an independent. Anti-Israel firebrand  George Galloway, however, lost the seat in Rochdale that he won in a by-election four months ago on the back of a pro-Gaza campaign.