Scottish politicians unite in support of the Jewish community

Home  About SCoJeC  New on Site  Discussion Forum  Noticeboard  News  Resources  Guidebook  Communities  Four Corners  MEMO  MEMO+  Consultations  Points of View   Report an incident  Members only  Links  Contact  Support SCoJeC

Cross-Party Solidarity with the  Jewish Community   24 February 2015 Following the horrific antisemitic terrorist attacks on Jewish targets in Europe, the recent substantial rise in antisemitic incidentsrecorded by Police Scotland in the second half of last year, and the raising of the national terrorist threat level, all of which have contributed to unprecedented levels of anxiety and vulnerability in the Jewish community, the leaders of all the political parties in the Scottish Parliament, supported by other leading figures in Scottish public life, have taken the rare step of coming together to issue a joint statement of support and reassurance for the Jewish Community: “As political leaders in Scotland, we join together to express sadness and concern about the recent antisemitic terrorist murders in Paris and Copenhagen, the rise in antisemitism across Europe that has been highlighted by several recent reports, and the raising of the security threat level in the UK.  We celebrate Scotland's traditionally positive relationship with its Jewish population but understand why events elsewhere can undermine their sense of security, belonging, and well-being, and come together unreservedly to condemn all manifestations of antisemitism in Scotland and to assert Scotland's warm desire that Jewish people living in Scotland should feel safe, completely at home, and a key part of the multicultural Scottish community.” The Jewish Community welcomes this clear message to all parts of Scottish society alongside the excellent work being done by the Police to ensure the physical safety of the community and by the Procurator Fiscal service to bring the perpetrators of antisemitic hate crime to justice. The statement was signed by: Nicola Sturgeon MSP, First Minister and Leader of the SNP Jim Murphy MP, Leader of Scottish Labour Ruth Davidson MSP, Leader of the Scottish Conservative Party  Willie Rennie MSP, Leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats Partick Harvie MSP, Joint Leader of the Scottish Green Party Kezia Dugdale MSP, Leader of the Scottish Parliamentary Labour Group and welcomed and supported by: Alistair Carmichael MP, Secretary of State for Scotland  David Mundell MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Scotland Margaret Curran MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland Angus Robertson MP, Leader of the SNP in the House of Commons The Scottish Trades Union Congress The Church of Scotland The Roman Catholic Bishops Conference of Scotland The Muslim Council of Scotland