UK
Only a third of British Jews think we have a long-term future here, says new CAA poll
Two-thirds of young Jews aged 18 to 24 have considered leaving the country in the last two years, the Campaign Against Antisemitism says
January 27, 2025 10:04
Two-thirds of young Jews aged 18 to 24 have considered leaving the country in the last two years, the Campaign Against Antisemitism says
January 27, 2025 10:04Barely a third of the community feel that British Jews have a long-term future and less than half feel welcome in the country, according to a new survey by the Campaign Against Antisemitism.
Half have considered leaving the UK in the past two years owing to antisemitism.
The findings, based on 4,074 responses to a questionnaire in June, were released for Holocaust Memorial Day.
When asked if there were a long-term future for British Jews, 34 per cent agreed there was, while 37 per cent disagreed. Among 18-to-24 year olds, the figures were 44 per cent (who believed in a future) to 41 per cent.
While 50 per cent said they had considered leaving, 34 per cent had not (the rest were neutral); among 18-24 years olds, the proportion of those who had thought of leaving rose to 67 per cent.
Only 43 per cent felt welcome in the UK, compared to 34 per cent who did not.
More than half (58 per cent) said they hid signs of Judaism such as a kippah or a Magen David when they went out, compared to 22 per cent who did not.
Just over three-quarters (76 per cent) believed Islamists to pose a “very serious threat” to the community, compared to 60 per cent who saw it from the far-left and 26 per cent from the far-right.
Fewer than one in ten (9 per cent) thought the authorities were doing enough to “address and punish antisemitism” with 84 per cent expressing disapproval.
Most (82 per cent) felt the police were not doing enough and only 5 per cent had confidence in Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley.
Only 9 per cent were satisfied with London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan’s performance “in relation to the Jewish community” since October 7 while satisfaction was barely much higher for Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham (12 per cent): the dissatisfaction rating was 85 per cent for Khan and 33 per cent for Burnham.
The chant “From the river to the sea” — which is commonly shouted at pro-Palestinian marches — was almost universally thought antisemitic, with 95 per cent believing it so.
More than nine in ten (92 per cent) felt that BBC coverage of matters of Jewish interest was unfavourable.
But three-quarters (75 per cent) felt the Jewish community was doing enough or more than enough to tackle antisemitism, with only 21 per cent dissatisfied.
And 86 per cent, according to the CAA, said the organisation was “representative” of their views on antisemitism.
A CAA spokesman said, “These figures paint a sobering picture of the lives of British Jews and their future.
“British Jews have lost trust in the criminal justice system in general, which they do not feel is protecting them, and in the Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley in particular, after he has presided over the worst surge in antisemitism in living memory… We need more arrests, prosecutions, serious sentences and a ban on the anti-Israel marches.”
The organisation said its survey had been “modelled on best practice” established by the Institute for Jewish Policy Research’s National Jewish Community Survey.
JPR made clear that it was not consulted on the new poll.