Stars led by Tom Stoppard and Dame Maureen Lipman sign ‘October Declaration’ letter in stand against anti-Semitism in Britain

• READ: BBC’s failure to call Hamas ‘terrorists’ fuels anti-Semitism, ex-boss claims

A host of eminent actors, writers, academics, political and media figures have signed an ‘October Declaration’ against anti-Semitism in Britain.

The 210 signatories are led by Sir Tom Stoppard and Dame Maureen Lipman, and include the likes of Lord Owen, Professor Richard Dawkins and Rachel Riley.

The vast range of figures, Jewish and non-Jewish and from all walks of life, also include Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg, Sir Richard Dearlove and Simon Sebag Montefiore.

They write: ‘We are a group of concerned British citizens and residents from a wide range of backgrounds and professions who stand in solidarity with British Jews and condemn all forms of anti-Semitism, whether in Britain or elsewhere.’

The declaration details a 651 per cent rise in recorded anti-Semitic incidents since Hamas launched its murderous attack on October 7, and the sad spectacle of Jewish schools being forced to close.

A host of eminent actors, writers, academics, political and media figures have signed an ‘October Declaration’ against anti-Semitism in Britain, like Tom Stoppard (pictured)

The 210 signatories are led by Sir Tom Stoppard and Dame Maureen Lipman (pictured), and include the likes of Lord Owen, Professor Richard Dawkins and Rachel Riley

It adds: ‘British Jews should not live in fear because of actions taken by the state of Israel to defend itself. 

‘The British state must do everything in its power to protect them.

‘While we respect the right of all groups to engage in peaceful protest, we urge the police to enforce the law without fear or favour.

‘We ask the media, members of all political parties and everyone in public life to call out Hamas for what it is: a terrorist organisation.’

Inviting others to add their names on the website britishfriendsofisrael.org, they say of their declaration: ‘No one thought this would be necessary in the 21st Century but, sadly, it is.’

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