Community
Charity sector warns government’s budget will impact fight against antisemitism
JLC criticises the government as hate incidents surge in the wake of the Israel-Hamas conflict
November 27, 2024 16:18
JLC criticises the government as hate incidents surge in the wake of the Israel-Hamas conflict
November 27, 2024 16:18The Jewish Leadership Council (JLC) has strongly criticised the government's recent budget proposals, particularly the new measures affecting charities, which they argue will hinder efforts to combat antisemitism in the UK.
The JLC, which represents the UK’s largest Jewish organisations, has warned that the rise in employers' national insurance contributions will impose significant financial burdens on Jewish charities fighting antisemitism, which are already stretched due to the increase in Jew-hate.
While public sector services like the NHS have been exempted from these tax hikes, charities, including those focused on combating hate and protecting vulnerable communities, have not received the same relief.
Claudia Mendoza, chief executive of the Jewish Leadership Council, expressed her concern in a letter to the Independent, stating: "Antisemitism has risen to unprecedented levels since the attacks on Israel in October 2023", referring to the Hamas-led attacks that killed over 1,200 people.
She warned that the tax hike would "damage the essential work done by Jewish charities" and could lead to reductions across the entire charity sector, including organisations fighting antisemitism.
Mendoza added, “Charities of all faiths – as well as secular charities – will be forced to reduce the support they can provide to their beneficiaries, given the charity sector faces an additional £1.4billion tax bill. The chancellor must urgently consider an exemption from this tax rise for the charity sector. Without this, the services provided by British charities will be reduced – in some cases critically.”
The Community Security Trust (CST), which tracks antisemitic incidents, has already seen a surge in reports.
In the first half of 2024, the CST recorded 1,978 incidents of anti-Jewish hate, over double the 964 incidents reported in the first half of 2023.
Mark Gardner, CST’s chief executive, warned: “The NI costs will add a six figure sum to CST’s expenditure, which is already well over £10million because of the war, and the huge amount of extra work needing done by our strongly expanded staff and volunteer numbers.”
The Treasury has defended its position, citing the UK’s "generous" tax regime for charities, which includes over £6 billion in tax relief for charities and their donors.
A spokesperson for the Treasury pointed out that small charities have been protected by an increase in the Employment Allowance to £10,500, which will benefit many organisations with National Insurance liabilities.
Labour's shadow chancellor, Rachel Reeves, has defended the increase in National Insurance, saying it will raise funds to address the country’s "broken" infrastructure.