Sir Keir Starmer will urgently fly home from the European summit to chair the Cobra meeting on the synagogue attack.
The Prime Minister said: “The fact that this has taken place on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar, makes it all the more horrific.
“My thoughts are with the loved ones of all those affected, and my thanks go to the emergency services and all the first responders.”
The Prime Minister’s return comes after four people have been injured and a suspect has been shot at Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue on Middleton Road, Crumpsall, this morning.
The Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, said: “I am horrified by the news of an attack at a synagogue in Manchester today, on the holiest day in the Jewish calendar.
“My first thoughts are with the victims, our brave police and emergency services. I am being kept updated by Greater Manchester Police. I urge people to follow the advice of the emergency services.”
Liberal Democrat Leader Sir Ed Davey stated: “Horrified and appalled by the attack outside Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar.
“My thoughts are with the victims, our brave emergency services and the entire Jewish community.”
Follow below for live updates throughout the day…
Sadiq Khan confirms police are ‘stepping up patrols in Jewish communities and synagogues’ across London
Sadiq Khan has confirmed police are ‘stepping up patrols in Jewish communities and synagogues’ across London
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Sir Sadiq Khan has confirmed the police are increasing patrols in Jewish communities across London.
His confirmation follows Sir Keir Starmer’s statement that “additional police assets are being deployed to synagogues across the country”.
Greater Manchester Police confirmed two members of the public had died at Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue in Manchester.
Follow details of the attack here
Foreign Office ‘very concerned’ after Israel intercepts Gaza aid flotilla
The Foreign Office said it is “very concerned” after a flotilla of boats heading to Gaza with British citizens on board has been intercepted by the Israeli navy.
Activists said at least 20 of the boats aiming to reach Gaza were intercepted.
A Foreign Office spokesman said: “We are very concerned about the situation with the Sumud flotilla, we are in touch with the families of a number of British nationals involved, and we have been in contact with the Israeli authorities to make clear that we expect the situation to be resolved safely, in line with international law and with due respect for the rights of all those on board.
“The aid carried by the flotilla should be turned over to humanitarian organisations on the ground to be delivered safely into Gaza.”
Local MP to Manchester synagogue calls for community to come together and ‘make sure these evil people do not damage’ them
MP for Blackley and Middleton South Graham Stringer has called for the community to unite and “make sure these evil people do not damage” them.
“The area, as you will know, coming from Salford, is a very large Jewish community next to a very large Muslim community, and by and large community relations are excellent between all the different ethnic groups and religious groups, but there are always extreme people who want to damage those relationships and want to, in this case, damage Jews and the Jewish community.”
Reflecting on the aftermath of the Manchester Arena bombing in 2017, he said: “Everybody got together because it’s not enough just to say we’re tolerant and we want better relations.
“We have to work at it and we have to make sure these evil people do not damage our community, which is comprised of many different kinds of religious beliefs and ethnic backgrounds,” he told the BBC.
Nigel Farage says he is ‘horrified’ by the Manchester synagogue attack
Nigel Farage has said he is “horrified” by the attack at a synagogue in Manchester.
The Reform UK leader said:”I am horrified by the attack at a synagogue in Manchester today, particularly on Yom Kippur – the holiest day in the Jewish calendar.
“My thoughts and prayers are with the families of those affected and the Jewish community who will be suffering at this time, and my thanks go to the emergency services.”
PICTURED: Sir Keir Starmer departs Denmark as he returns to the UK
Sir Keir Starmer departs Denmark as he returns to the UK
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Prime Minister confirms ‘additional police assets’ will be deployed at synagogues across the country
The Prime Minister confirmed that there will be ‘additional police assets’ deployed to synagogues across the country
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GB NEWS
Sir Keir Starmer has confirmed that “additional police assets” will be deployed at synagogues across the country.
The Prime Minister is flying back from the European Political Community Summit in Copenhagen, Denmark, to chair a Cobra meeting.
He said: “We will do everything to keep our Jewish community safe.”
Sir Keir Starmer leaves European Political Community Summit early
Sir Keir Starmer has left the European Political Community Summit early following the attack at a synagogue in Manchester.
He was there to discuss the importance of supporting Ukraine and migration within Europe.
He told reporters earlier that he planned to discuss illegal migration and “look at what further options” the leader could pursue together.
Sir Keir added: “There is also, then, obviously, the question of Ukraine and how we put in more support for Ukraine, put pressure on Putin.”
Politicians react to Manchester synagogue attack
Politicians have been reacting to the ongoing situation in Crumpsall, Manchester, where four people have been injured and a knifeman has been shot.
Leader of the Conservative Party, Kemi Badenoch, described the incident as a “vile and disgusting attack”, telling the BBC: “It does look like an outrageous attack on the Jewish community on their holiest day, Yom Kippur.
“I think it is a vile and disgusting attack. I know that many Jewish people in our country feel that they’re no longer safe, and my heart goes out to the people who have been hurt by this, and everyone who’s been affected.”
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said he was “appalled” by the attack.
In a statement, the Tory Shadow Minister said: “This is a sickening attack on people at a synagogue on Middleton Road in Manchester – on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar.
“My thoughts and prayers are with the victims, their families and the whole Jewish community here in the UK.”
Reform UK Deputy Leader Richard Tice wrote on X: “Horrified to hear of attack at a Manchester synagogue today, on Yom Kippur.
“My thoughts and prayers are with those affected & the wider Jewish community.”
Keir Starmer ‘appalled’ by synagogue attack
Sir Keir Starmer has reacted to the attack on a synagogue in Crumpsall, Manchester
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Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer says he is “appalled” by an attack on a synagogue in Crumpsall, Manchester.
In a statement shared on social media he said: “The fact that this has taken place on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar, makes it all the more horrific.
“My thoughts are with the loved ones of all those affected, and my thanks go to the emergency services and all the first responders.”
Keep up to date with the details of the attack here.
ANALYSIS – GB News’ Political Correspondent Katherine Forster reports on what the Government’s priorities are going into the European Political Community Summit in Copenhagen
GB News’ Political Correspondent Katherine Forster is in Copenhagen, Denmark today, as she reports on what the Government’s priorities are at the European Political Community Summit.
Speaking on the People’s Channel, she said: “Illegal migration, a big topic. The Prime Minister will be hosting a round table and the central message is ‘no golden ticket’.
“Their [Labour] are fundamentally admitting that there are people who have been asylum shopping because, of course, if you cross the Channel on a small boat, you would have had to cross the whole of Europe, all of these safe countries, to come to Britain.”
WATCH KATHERINE FORSTER’S FULL ANALYSIS ABOVE
Sir Keir Starmer vows to continue fighting Russian aggression in Ukraine ‘with everything that we have’
Sir Keir Starmer has vowed for European leaders to continue to support Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression “with everything that we have”.
Speaking at the European Political Community summit in Copenhagen, Denmark, the Prime Minister said: “[Russian attacks] are unrelenting and they show an appetite to continue and we should fight it with everything that we have.
“It is a reminder for all of us, Volodymyr [Zelensky], that this isn’t a question of Ukrainian sovereignty, it is a question of freedoms of all of us, particularly in Europe – we are all in this fight in relation to the Russian aggression.
The Prime Minister continued that if a ceasefire is agreed, “we must continue support for Ukraine” and put Kyiv in “the strongest possible position”.
Claire Coutinho feels the Government needs to do more with deporting people
Shadow Energy Secretary Claire Coutinho has welcomed Sir Keir Starmer’s move to require refugees to “earn” their right to stay in the UK long term, but doesn’t feel it goes far enough.
She said: “The challenge that you’ve got with Keir, particularly, is that he doesn’t want to take on any of the legal architecture, which means that we struggle to deport people.
“Whether they are criminals, whether they are not contributing, whatever it may be, so actually I think he needs to go much further than this.
“We know the public is extremely worried about immigration; they are extremely fed up with seeing these cases where we can’t deport people who have committed the most awful crimes here in Britain.
“We need to have a much tighter system, and I don’t think the Labour policies do that at all.”
WATCH THE FULL INTERVIEW WITH CLAIRE COUTINHO ABOVE
Migration and Ukraine will be the ‘two dominant issues’ for European leaders
Sir Keir Starmer has said that migration and Ukraine will be the “two dominant issues” for European leaders to discuss as they meet today at the European Political Community Summit.
The Prime Minister told reporters: “We’re certainly discussing illegal migration and looking at what further options we can take together.
“Obviously, I’ve always argued that working with other countries is always a stronger response. So we’re looking at a number of options there.
“There’s a big appetite for it, a number of countries wanting to work with us on what more we can do. So, we’ll be looking at that.
“There is also, then, obviously, the question of Ukraine and how we put in more support for Ukraine, put pressure on Putin. So, it’ll really be migration and Ukraine will be the two dominant issues in the discussions today.”
Mike Tapp backs the Prime Minister’s comments saying there is no ‘golden ticket’ to the UK for refugees
Home Office Minister Mike Tapp has backed Sir Keir Starmer’s comments that there is no “golden ticket” to settling in the UK, with refugees having to “earn” their right to stay long term.
Mr Tapp told GB News: “What we are seeing from the Prime Minister today is making it clear, to those who are in Europe looking to claim asylum, that we are not a soft touch and that you cannot shop around so we are levelling that playing field and making it fairer for the people of Britain, but of course offering that help to the people that need it.
“We have started with those record increases in deportations and removals. We’ve also got returns agreements across the board, including with the French, which means that those pull factors are reduced.
“We are looking at the ECHR, which is really important, and we are making sure we are moving people out of hotel accommodation into MoD accommodation.”
WATCH THE FULL INTERVIEW WITH MIKE TAPP ABOVE
Sir Keir Starmer describes Metropolitan Police officers making racist and misogynistic comments as ‘shocking’
The Prime Minister has described the footage obtained by the BBC of Metropolitan Police officers making racist and misogynistic comments as “shocking”.
Sir Keir Starmer called on Sir Mark Rowley “to be very robust in his response”.
The shocking footage revealed officers making sexualised comments to colleagues and sharing racist views about immigrants and Muslims.
Mr Rowley said that nine officers and one staff member have been suspended, and two other officers have been removed from frontline duties.
Sir Keir Starmer says there is no ‘golden ticket’ to the UK as refugees will have to earn right to stay
Sir Keir Starmer said there will be no “golden ticket” to settling in the UK under plans to require refugees to “earn” their right to stay long term.
The Government has proposed plans to end automatic family union rights for those granted asylum in the UK and change the requirements for long-term settlement in Britain.
The Prime Minister said: “I believe that if you want to come to the UK, you should contribute to our society.
“That is the tolerant and fair approach to migration that our communities are built on, but the current system is not fit for purpose.
“That is why we’re making fundamental changes to what those granted asylum are afforded in the UK.
“Settlement must be earned by contributing to our country, not by paying a people smuggler to cross the Channel in a boat.”
No10 says new digital ID card will not be known as ‘Britcard’ as support plummets
The Government’s new digital identity card will not be known as a “BritCard”, Downing Street has confirmed.
The digital identity card – unveiled last week by Sir Keir Starmer – was immediately dubbed “the BritCard” as that was the name given to the scheme by Labour Together, the left-wing think tank close to No10, in the summer.
The concept of a “BritCard” immediately led to backlash from politicians in devolved UK regions, notably Northern Ireland, where nationalists would have boycotted the scheme if it were known as a “BritCard”.
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar confirmed in an interview with GB News’ Chopper’s Political Podcast that the new ID card would not be called the BritCard.
WATCH PART OF THE INTERVIEW ABOVE AND READ THE FULL STORY HERE
Bridget Phillipson says there is ‘real urgency’ to scrap the two-child benefit cap
Bridget Phillipson says there is a ‘real urgency’ to scrap the two-child benefit cap
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Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said there is “real urgency” to scrap the two-child benefit cap amid speculation it could be lifted in the upcoming budget.
The Conservatives introduced the two-child limit, which restricts child tax credit and universal credit to the first two children in most households.
Campaigners say it pulls more than 100 children into poverty across the UK every day.
Ms Phillipson told the BBC: “There’s a real urgency about this because every year that passes, as children are born, as they move into that system, the numbers go up, child poverty rates increase.
“This was a Tory policy that’s had a devastating impact on children, and we’ll sort it.”
