Antisemitism is “pervasive” in Britain’s health service, as well as at universities and in the arts. Indeed, there is “almost nowhere” free from this form of hatred. That is according to a new government-backed report commissioned by the Board of Deputies of British Jews. Although, as MCC Brussels executive director Frank Furedi pointed out, an official report was not needed “to state the obvious fact of life in Britain.”

This issue is by no means a new one, as the image above makes clear, though it has been exacerbated in recent years by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, and in particular since October 7th. It is worth noting, too, that commentators have criticised coverage of this new report for failing to mention the role of Islamism.

The review, which got the front-page slot in the latest edition of The Sunday Telegraph, points in particular to how antisemitism has become normalised in middle-class Britain. It warns that Jewish people are suffering increasing prejudice “in our professions, cultural life [and] public services” and feel as though they are being “tolerated rather than being respected.”

It also says that Jewish people are often “held responsible for the actions of the Israeli government,” and that policing of hate crimes against Jews is inconsistent.

Britain’s Jewish population appears to have been acutely aware of this for some time. Only one-third of Jews who responded to a survey released in January said they believed they have a long-term future in the UK. Half also said they had considered leaving the country over the previous year, citing antisemitism.

The authors of this new report have recommended that Judaism be nationally recognised as an ethnicity as well as a religion, which they said would help to tackle anti-Jewish hatred. They have also challenged the government to establish a plan for making professional bodies safer for Jewish members.